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A modular routing node includes a single input port and a plurality of output ports. The modular routing node is arranged to produce a plurality of different deflections and uses small adjustments to compensate for wavelength differences and alignment tolerances in an optical system. An optical devi

A modular routing node includes a single input port and a plurality of output ports. The modular routing node is arranged to produce a plurality of different deflections and uses small adjustments to compensate for wavelength differences and alignment tolerances in an optical system. An optical device is arranged to receive a multiplex of many optical signals at different wavelengths, to separate the optical signals into at least two groups, and to process at least one of the groups adaptively.

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1. An optical processor, the optical processor comprising: a reflective SLM,a dispersion device, anda focusing device disposed between the reflective SLM and the dispersion device,wherein the SLM has a two-dimensional array of controllable phase-modulating elements,wherein the SLM is configured for

1. An optical processor, the optical processor comprising: a reflective SLM,a dispersion device, anda focusing device disposed between the reflective SLM and the dispersion device,wherein the SLM has a two-dimensional array of controllable phase-modulating elements,wherein the SLM is configured for selection of controllable phase-modulating elements whereby two-dimensional groups of controllable phase-modulating elements are formed at chosen locations of the SLM;wherein the optical processor is configured such that, using the focusing device, light from the dispersion device is spatially distributed by wavelength across the SLM and within each of the two-dimensional groups, andwherein the optical processor is configured such that the two-dimensional groups of controllable phase-modulating elements display different holograms at the chosen locations of the SLM where said light is incident, for independently processing different wavelengths of said light corresponding to a central wavelength of said light for each of the two-dimensional groups. 2. The optical processor of claim 1, wherein the SLM is an LCOS SLM. 3. The optical processor of claim 2, wherein the LCOS SLM is substantially polarization independent. 4. The optical processor of claim 2, further comprising a wave plate disposed such that successive passes of a beam through the liquid crystal of the LCOS SLM subject each orthogonally polarized component to a substantially similar electrically-set phase change. 5. The optical processor of claim 1, configured such that light from the dispersion device and focusing device that is specularly reflected by the SLM is not reflected back to the dispersion device. 6. The optical processor of claim 1, having a control circuit and sensor devices, the sensor devices being arranged to detect light emergent from the SLM, the control circuit being responsive to signals from the sensor devices to vary assignment of the controllable phase-modulating elements to the groups of controllable phase-modulating elements. 7. The optical processor of claim 1, having a control circuit and sensor devices, the sensor devices being arranged to detect light emergent from the SLM, the control circuit being responsive to signals from the sensor devices to vary the selection of control data for generating the different holograms. 8. The optical processor of claim 1, having a control circuit and sensor devices, the sensor device being arranged to detect light emergent from the SLM, the control circuit being responsive to signals from the sensor devices to vary assignment of the controllable elements to the groups of controllable phase-modulating elements and the selection of control data for generating the different holograms. 9. The optical processor of claim 1, further comprising an input and plural outputs, wherein the input is configured to receive a light beam having plural wavelengths, the optical processor being adapted to select wavelengths of the input beam to appear in respective outputs. 10. The optical processor of claim 9, wherein the input and outputs are disposed so that light from the input that is reflected specularly by the SLM is not incident upon any of said outputs, whereby each hologram provides routing to incident light. 11. The optical processor of claim 10, wherein the SLM comprises a continuous array of controllable elements. 12. The optical processor of claim 1, further comprising plural inputs and an output, the output delivering an optical beam having plural wavelengths, the processor being adapted to select the wavelengths from the plural inputs to appear in the output. 13. The optical processor of claim 12, wherein the inputs and output are disposed so that light from said inputs reflected specularly by the SLM is not incident upon said output, whereby each hologram provides routing to incident light. 14. A routing node comprising a first optical processor of claim 1 in combination with a second optical processor of claim 1, the first optical processor further comprising an input and plural outputs, wherein the input is configured to receive a light beam having plural wavelengths, the optical processor being adapted to select wavelengths of the input beam to appear in respective outputs, the second optical processor, further comprising plural inputs and an output, the output delivering an optical beam having plural wavelengths, the processor being adapted to select the wavelengths from the plural inputs to appear in the output, wherein an output of the first optical processor forms an input to the second optical processor, the first optical processor constituting an input processor, the second optical processor constituting an output processor. 15. The optical processor of claim 1, wherein the optical processor is configured to display the different holograms at the same time to independently process the different wavelengths of said light. 16. The optical processor of claim 1, wherein the focusing device is configured to focus said light for each of the central wavelengths onto the corresponding group of controllable phase-modulating elements. 17. The optical processor of claim 1, wherein the SLM is a device that modifies a property of light as a function of time and position across it. 18. A method of operating an optical device, the optical device comprising a reflective SLM having a two-dimensional array of controllable phase-modulating elements, a dispersion device and a focusing device disposed between the reflective SLM and the dispersion device, the method comprising: spatially distributing, by wavelength, light having plural wavelengths across the reflective SLM via the dispersion device and the focusing device;assigning groups of individual controllable phase-modulating elements by wavelength, whereby said light is spatially distributed by wavelength within each group and each group has a corresponding central wavelength;selecting, from stored control data, control data for at least some groups of controllable phase-modulating elements;generating, from the respective selected control data, a respective hologram at the at least some groups of controllable phase-modulating elements; andvarying the assignment of the groups and the selection of control data whereby upon illumination of said at least some groups by respective light beams at different wavelengths, respective emergent light beams from the groups are controllable independently of each other. 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising adjusting at least one hologram to compensate for one of the list comprising component misalignments, curvature of a substrate of the SLM and wavelength of light. 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the SLM comprises a liquid crystal material and the optical device comprises a wave plate disposed such that successive passes of a beam through the liquid crystal material subject each orthogonally polarized component of the beam to a substantially similar electrically-set phase change. 21. The method of claim 18, further comprising varying the assignment of the groups and the selection of control data in response to temperature change. 22. The method of claim 18, wherein sensor devices are arranged to detect light emergent from the SLM, the method comprising varying the assignment of the groups in response to outputs of the sensor devices. 23. The method of claim 18, further comprising assigning groups having one of differing shapes, differing sizes and differing position. 24. The method of claim 18, further comprising, for at least one group of phase modulating elements, providing control data indicative of two holograms to be displayed by said group and generating a combined hologram. 25. The method of claim 18, having a set-up phase, the method further comprising both causing the SLM to route a beam and causing the SLM to emulate a corrective element to correct for errors, whereby the SLM receives a discrete approximation of the combination of both a linear phase modulation applied to it to route the beam and a non-linear phase modulation for correction of said errors. 26. The method of claim 18, wherein the generating step comprises displaying multiple holograms on the SLM at the same time. 27. The method of claim 18, wherein the focusing device focuses said light for each of the central wavelengths onto the corresponding group of controllable phase-modulating elements. 28. The method of claim 18, wherein the SLM is a device that modifies a property of light as a function of time and position across it. 29. A method of operating an optical device comprising a reflective SLM having a two-dimensional array of controllable phase-modulating elements, a dispersion device and a focusing device disposed between the reflective SLM and the dispersion device, the method comprising: spatially distributing, by wavelength, light having plural wavelengths across the reflective SLM via the dispersion device and the focusing device;assigning groups of individual controllable phase-modulating elements by wavelength, whereby said light is spatially distributed by wavelength within each group and each group has a corresponding central wavelength;selecting, from stored control data, control data for each group of controllable phase-modulating elements;generating, from the respective selected control data, a respective hologram at each group of controllable phase-modulating elements; andvarying the assignment of the groups whereby upon illumination of said groups by respective light beams at different wavelengths, respective emergent light beams from the groups are controllable independently of each other. 30. The method of claim 29, further comprising creating a desired filter response for light of a given wavelength by assigning controllable elements of said SLM to a group for light of said wavelength. 31. The method of claim 29, wherein the generating step comprises displaying multiple holograms on the SLM at the same time. 32. The method of claim 29, wherein the focusing device focuses said light for each of the central wavelengths onto the corresponding group of controllable phase-modulating elements. 33. The method of claim 29, wherein the SLM is a device that modifies a property of light as a function of time and position across it. 34. A method of operating an optical device, the optical device comprising a reflective SLM having a two-dimensional array of controllable phase-modulating elements, a dispersion device and a focusing device disposed between the reflective SLM and the dispersion device, the method comprising: spatially distributing, by wavelength, light having plural wavelengths across the reflective SLM via the dispersion device and the focusing device;assigning groups of individual controllable phase-modulating elements by wavelengths, whereby said light is spatially distributed by wavelength within each group and each group has a corresponding central wavelength;selecting, from stored control data, control data for at least some groups of controllable phase-modulating elements;generating, from the respective selected control data, a respective hologram at the at least some groups of controllable phase-modulating elements; andvarying the selection of control data whereby upon illumination of said groups by respective light beams at different wavelengths, respective emergent light beams from the groups are controllable independently of each other. 35. The method of claim 34, wherein the generating step comprises displaying multiple holograms on the SLM at the same time. 36. The method of claim 34, wherein the focusing device focuses said light for each of the central wavelengths onto the corresponding group of controllable phase-modulating elements. 37. The method of claim 34, wherein the SLM is a device that modifies a property of light as a function of time and position across it. 38. A method of training an optical device, the optical device comprising a reflective SLM having a two-dimensional array of controllable phase-modulating elements, a dispersion device and a focusing device disposed between the reflective SLM and the dispersion device, the method comprising: spatially distributing, by wavelength, light having plural wavelengths across the reflective SLM via the dispersion device and the focusing device;assigning groups of individual controllable phase-modulating elements by wavelength, whereby said light is spatially distributed by wavelength within each group and each group has a corresponding central wavelength;selecting, from stored control data, control data for each group of controllable phase-modulating elements;generating, from the respective selected control data, a respective hologram at each group of controllable phase-modulating elements;measuring the performance of the device, comparing the measured performance with a desired performance; and in response thereto, varying the assignment of the groups to improve the measured performance. 39. The method of claim 38, wherein the focusing device focuses said light for each of the central wavelengths onto the corresponding group of controllable phase-modulating elements. 40. The method of claim 38, wherein the SLM is a device that modifies a property of light as a function of time and position across it.