A system and method for wavelength division multiplexing and demultiplexing are disclosed. The disclosed system may include a fiber optic element operable to transmit a multiplexed light signal. The system may also include a light focusing device, and the fiber optic element may be oriented to project light through the light focusing device. An additional element may be a diffraction grating having a diffraction order greater than one. The diffraction grating may be positioned in a Littrow configuration with respect to the light focusing device and may have a groove spacing equal to or larger than three times the wavelength of light used in the system.