Laguerre-Gaussian Mode Division Multiplexing in Multimode Fiber using SLMs in VCSEL Arrays

Abstract

Mode division multiplexing (MDM) is a promising technology for increasing the aggregate bandwidth of multimode fiber in conjunction with wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) as a means to alleviate the impending capacity crunch in optical fiber networks due to increasing consumer bandwidth demands. This paper models a 25-channel Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) MDM-WDM system in a multimode fiber using an integrated SLM-controlled VCSEL array. A data rate of 25Gbps is achieved at a central wavelength of 1550.12 nm. Although previous work have addressed the effect of excitation of different individual modes on the MDM performance, the implication of the separation of the mode numbers have not been investigated. Apart from the modelling of the SLM-controlled VCSEL array, another significant contribution of this paper is the analyses on the effect of the separation of radial mode numbers and separation of azimuthal mode numbers in an integrated SLM-based VCSEL MDM system. The effects ofdifferent azimuthal mode spacing and radial mode spacing of LG modes were analysed on the channel impulse response, eye diagrams and bit-error rates