An optical switch is provided which includes a plurality of input/output
ports for receiving one or more wavelength component(s) of an optical
signal. The optical switch also includes an optical arrangement that
directs the wavelength component to any given one of the plurality of
input/output ports. The given input/output port may be selected from
among any of the plurality of input/output ports. If the optical signal
includes a plurality of wavelength components, the optical arrangement
includes at least one wavelength selective element such as a thin film
filter. The wavelength selective element selects one of the wavelength
components from among the plurality of wavelength components. The optical
arrangement also includes a plurality of optical elements each associated
with one of the wavelength selective elements. Each of the optical
elements direct the selected wavelength component, which is selected by
its associated selective element, to a given one of the plurality of
input/output ports independently of every other wavelength component. The
optical elements may be tiltable retroreflective mirror assemblies.