An optical switching apparatus includes at least one optical waveguide to
deliver at least one input optical beam. A dispersion device spatially
separates the at least one input optical beam into individual wavelength
channels. An optical power device aligns the individual wavelength
channels. An optical switch has at least one transflective polarizing
element, at least one birefringent wedge and at least two polarization
switches. The individual wavelength channels are directed to
independently addressable regions of the polarization switches for
wavelength selective switching. A second optical power device aligns the
individual wavelength channels from the optical switch. A second
dispersion device spatially combines individual wavelength channels from
the second optical power device. At least one output optical waveguide
receives at least one of the individual wavelength channels from the
second dispersion device.