Novel Applications Of Space-Division Multiplexing

Keywords

few-mode fiber (FMF); multi-core fiber (MCF); passive optical network (PON); space-division multiplexing (SDM); wavelength-selective switch (WSS)

Abstract

Space-division multiplexing (SDM) using multi-core fibers (MCFs) and few-mode fibers (FMFs) was proposed as a solution to increase capacity and/or reduce the cost per bit of fiber-optic transmission. Advances in passive and active SDM devices as well as digital signal processing have led to impressive SDM transmission demonstrations in the laboratory. Although the perceived advantages in terms of capacity and cost per bit that SDM offers over parallel SMF bundles are not universally accepted, SDM is beginning to emerge as an indispensable solution in major network segments. The introduction of the spatial degree of freedom allows optical networks to overcome fundamental limitations such as fiber nonlinearity as well practical limitations such as power delivery. We describe these application scenarios that the optical communications industry has already began to explore. From a fundamental science point of view, concepts such as the principal modes, generalized Stokes space, and multi-component solitons discovered in SDM research will likely have a broad impact in other areas of science and engineering.

Publication Date

6-1-2016

Publication Title

Frontiers of Optoelectronics

Volume

9

Issue

2

Number of Pages

270-276

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12200-016-0607-2

Socpus ID

84964039973 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/84964039973

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