Roadmap on multimode photonics

Multimode devices and components have attracted considerable attention in the last years, and different research topics and themes have emerged very recently. The multimodality can be seen as an additional degree of freedom in designing devices, thus allowing for the development of more complex and sophisticated components. The propagation of different modes can be used to increase the fiber optic capacity, but also to introduce novel intermodal interactions, as well as allowing for complex manipulation of optical modes for a variety of applications. In this roadmap we would like to give to the readers a comprehensive overview of the most recent developments in the field, presenting contributions coming from different research topics, including optical fiber technologies, integrated optics, basic physics and telecommunications

Orbital angular momentum in optical fibers

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston UniversityInternet data traffic capacity is rapidly reaching limits imposed by nonlinear effects of single mode fibers currently used in optical communications. Having almost exhausted available degrees of freedom to orthogonally multiplex data in optical fibers, researchers are now exploring the possibility of using the spatial dimension of fibers, via multicore and multimode fibers, to address the forthcoming capacity crunch. While multicore fibers require complex manufacturing, conventional multimode fibers suffer from mode coupling, caused by random perturbations in fibers and modal (de)multiplexers. Methods that have been developed to address the problem of mode coupling so far, have been dependent on computationally intensive digital signal processing algorithms using adaptive optics feedback or complex multiple-input multiple-output algorithms. Here we study the possibility of using the orbital angular momentum (OAM), or helicity, of light, as a means of increasing capacity of future optical fiber communication links. We first introduce a class of specialty fibers designed to minimize mode coupling and show their potential for OAM mode generation in fibers using numerical analysis. We then experimentally confirm the existence of OAM states in these fibers using methods based on fiber gratings and spatial light modulators. In order to quantify the purity of created OAM states, we developed two methods based on mode-image analysis, showing purity of OAM states to be 90% after 1km in these fibers. Finally, in order to demonstrate data transmission using OAM states, we developed a 4-mode multiplexing and demultiplexing systems based on free-space optics and spatial light modulators. Using simple coherent detection methods, we successfully transmit data at 400Gbit/s using four OAM modes at a single wavelength, over 1.1 km of fiber. Furthermore, we achieve data transmission at 1.6Tbit/s using 10 wavelengths and two OAM modes. Our study indicates that OAM light can exist, and be long lived, in a special class of fibers and our data transmission demonstrations show that OAM could be considered an additional degree of freedom for data multiplexing in future optical fiber communication links. Our studies open the doors for other applications such as micro-endoscopy and nanoscale imaging which require fiber based remote delivery of OAM light

Spatially integrated erbium-doped fiber amplifiers enabling space-division multiplexing

L'augmentation exponentielle de la demande de bande passante pour les communications laisse présager une saturation prochaine de la capacité des réseaux de télécommunications qui devrait se matérialiser au cours de la prochaine décennie. En effet, la théorie de l’information prédit que les effets non linéaires dans les fibres monomodes limite la capacité de transmission de celles-ci et peu de gain à ce niveau peut être espéré des techniques traditionnelles de multiplexage développées et utilisées jusqu’à présent dans les systèmes à haut débit. La dimension spatiale du canal optique est proposée comme un nouveau degré de liberté qui peut être utilisé pour augmenter le nombre de canaux de transmission et, par conséquent, résoudre cette menace de «crise de capacité». Ainsi, inspirée par les techniques micro-ondes, la technique émergente appelée multiplexage spatial (SDM) est une technologie prometteuse pour la création de réseaux optiques de prochaine génération. Pour réaliser le SDM dans les liens de fibres optiques, il faut réexaminer tous les dispositifs intégrés, les équipements et les sous-systèmes. Parmi ces éléments, l'amplificateur optique SDM est critique, en particulier pour les systèmes de transmission pour les longues distances. En raison des excellentes caractéristiques de l'amplificateur à fibre dopée à l'erbium (EDFA) utilisé dans les systèmes actuels de pointe, l'EDFA est à nouveau un candidat de choix pour la mise en œuvre des amplificateurs SDM pratiques. Toutefois, étant donné que le SDM introduit une variation spatiale du champ dans le plan transversal de la fibre, les amplificateurs à fibre dopée à l'erbium spatialement intégrés (SIEDFA) nécessitent une conception soignée. Dans cette thèse, nous examinons tout d'abord les progrès récents du SDM, en particulier les amplificateurs optiques SDM. Ensuite, nous identifions et discutons les principaux enjeux des SIEDFA qui exigent un examen scientifique. Suite à cela, la théorie des EDFA est brièvement présentée et une modélisation numérique pouvant être utilisée pour simuler les SIEDFA est proposée. Sur la base d'un outil de simulation fait maison, nous proposons une nouvelle conception des profils de dopage annulaire des fibres à quelques-modes dopées à l'erbium (ED-FMF) et nous évaluons numériquement la performance d’un amplificateur à un étage, avec fibre à dopage annulaire, à ainsi qu’un amplificateur à double étage pour les communications sur des fibres ne comportant que quelques modes. Par la suite, nous concevons des fibres dopées à l'erbium avec une gaine annulaire et multi-cœurs (ED-MCF). Nous avons évalué numériquement le recouvrement de la pompe avec les multiples cœurs de ces amplificateurs. En plus de la conception, nous fabriquons et caractérisons une fibre multi-cœurs à quelques modes dopées à l'erbium. Nous réalisons la première démonstration des amplificateurs à fibre optique spatialement intégrés incorporant de telles fibres dopées. Enfin, nous présentons les conclusions ainsi que les perspectives de cette recherche. La recherche et le développement des SIEDFA offriront d'énormes avantages non seulement pour les systèmes de transmission future SDM, mais aussi pour les systèmes de transmission monomode sur des fibres standards à un cœur car ils permettent de remplacer plusieurs amplificateurs par un amplificateur intégré.The exponential increase of communication bandwidth demand is giving rise to the so-called ‘capacity crunch’ expected to materialize within the next decade. Due to the nonlinear limit of the single mode fiber predicted by the information theory, all the state-of-the-art techniques which have so far been developed and utilized in order to extend the optical fiber communication capacity are exhausted. The spatial domain of the lightwave links is proposed as a new degree of freedom that can be employed to increase the number of transmission paths and, subsequently, overcome the looming ‘capacity crunch’. Therefore, the emerging technique named space-division multiplexing (SDM) is a promising candidate for creating next-generation optical networks. To realize SDM in optical fiber links, one needs to investigate novel spatially integrated devices, equipment, and subsystems. Among these elements, the SDM amplifier is a critical subsystem, in particular for the long-haul transmission system. Due to the excellent features of the erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) used in current state-of-the-art systems, the EDFA is again a prime candidate for implementing practical SDM amplifiers. However, since the SDM introduces a spatial variation of the field in the transverse plane of the optical fibers, spatially integrated erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (SIEDFA) require a careful design. In this thesis, we firstly review the recent progress in SDM, in particular, the SDM optical amplifiers. Next, we identify and discuss the key issues of SIEDFA that require scientific investigation. After that, the EDFA theory is briefly introduced and a corresponding numerical modeling that can be used for simulating the SIEDFA is proposed. Based on a home-made simulation tool, we propose a novel design of an annular based doping profile of few-mode erbium-doped fibers (FM-EDF) and numerically evaluate the performance of single stage as well as double-stage few-mode erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (FM-EDFA) based on such fibers. Afterward, we design annular-cladding erbium-doped multicore fibers (MC-EDF) and numerically evaluate the cladding pumped multicore erbium-doped fiber amplifier (MC-EDFA) based on these fibers as well. In addition to fiber design, we fabricate and characterize a multicore few-mode erbium-doped fiber (MC-FM-EDF), and perform the first demonstration of the spatially integrated optical fiber amplifiers incorporating such specialty doped fibers. Finally, we present the conclusions as well as the perspectives of this research. In general, the investigation and development of the SIEDFA will bring tremendous benefits not only for future SDM transmission systems but also for current state-of-the-art single-mode single-core transmission systems by replacing plural amplifiers by one integrated amplifier

Mode Coupling in Space-division Multiplexed Systems

Even though fiber-optic communication systems have been engineered to nearly approach the Shannon capacity limit, they still cannot meet the exponentially-growing bandwidth demand of the Internet. Space-division multiplexing (SDM) has attracted considerable attention in recent years due to its potential to address this capacity crunch. In SDM, the transmission channels support more than one spatial mode, each of which can provide the same capacity as a single-mode fiber. To make SDM practical, crosstalk among modes must be effectively managed. This dissertation presents three techniques for crosstalk management for SDM. In some cases such as intra-datacenter interconnects, even though mode crosstalk cannot be completely avoided, crosstalk among mode groups can be suppressed in properly-designed few-mode fibers to support mode group-multiplexed transmission. However, in most cases, mode coupling is unavoidable. In free-space optical (FSO) communication, mode coupling due to turbulence manifests as wavefront distortions. Since there is almost no modal dispersion in FSO, we demonstrate the use of few-mode pre-amplified receivers to mitigate the effect of turbulence without using adaptive optics. In fiber-optic communication, multi-mode fibers or long-haul few-mode fibers not only suffer from mode crosstalk but also large modal dispersion, which can only be compensated electronically using multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) digital signal processing (DSP). In this case, we take the counterintuitive approach of introducing strong mode coupling to reduce modal group delay and DSP complexity

Scaling of the Number of Modes in Mode Division Multiplexing Systems

We review our recent advances on the design of multimode fibres with hundreds of spatial pathways for reduced differential mode delay in the C-band and on the development of adaptable spatial multiplexing techniques to enable scalability of all data pathways

Mode Evolution in Fiber Based Devices for Optical Communication Systems

Space division multiplexing (SDM) is the most promising way of increasing the capacity of a single fiber. To enable the few mode fiber (FMF) or multi-mode fiber (MMF) transmission system, several major challenges have to be overcome. One is the urgent need of ideal mode multiplexer, the second is the perfect amplification for all spatial modes, another one is the modal delay spread (MDS) due to group velocity difference of spatial modes. The main subject of this dissertation is to model, fabricate and characterize the mode multiplexer for FMF transmission. First, we designed a novel resonant mode coupler (structured directional coupler pair). After that, we studied the adiabatic mode multiplexer (photonic lantern). 6-mode photonic lantern using graded-index (GI) MMFs is proposed and demonstrated, which alleviates the adiabatic require-ment and improves mode selectivity. Then, 10-mode photonic lantern is demonstrated using novel double cladding micro-structured drilling-hole preform, which alleviates the adiabatic requirement and demonstrate a feasible way to scale up the lantern modes. Also, multi-mode photonic lantern is studied for high order input modes. In addition, for the perfect amplification of the modes, cladding pump method is demonstrated. The mode selective lantern designed and fabricated can be used for the characterization of few mode amplifier with swept wavelength interferometer (SWI). Also, we demonstrated the application of the use of the few mode amplifier for the turbulence-resisted preamplified receiver. Besides, for the reduction of MDS, the long period grating for introducing strong mode mixing is demonstrated

On a Scalable Path for Multimode SDM Transmission

We investigate transceiver design and digital signal processing for spatially multiplexed transmission over multimode fibers. In conventional architectures, the full spatial domain of the transmission fiber has to be detected and processed such that the modal walk-off and mixture can be estimated and equalized. These architectures scale poorly with the number of modes supported, besides the sparsity of the fiber transfer matrix is not fully exploited. Instead, here we aim to employ selective mode vector launch and detection in order to minimize the number of optical front-ends required. In this case, an ideal basis for multiplexing is offered by principal modes, that to first order are frequency independent. We show that such mode vector basis can be used for full baud rate transmission over inter-data center distances despite limited coherence bandwidth and vulnerability to environmental-induced drift of the optical channel. It is shown that crosstalk at the receiver front-end can be significantly suppressed, critically reducing the number of coherent receiver front-ends to that of spatial tributaries aimed for data transmission - as opposed to the total number of fiber modes. Residual crosstalk can still be experienced due to environmental-induced channel drift and loss of orthogonality in presence of mode dependent loss. Multiple-input single-output digital signal processing is shown to be effective in this case, with the required equalizer array size scaling sub-linearly with the number of tributaries. A multimode fiber with 156 spatial and polarization modes and optimized for low modal dispersion is considered

Design and characterization of few-mode fibers for space division multiplexing on fiber eigenmodes

La croissance constante et exponentielle de la demande de trafic de données Internet conduit nos réseaux de télécommunications optiques, principalement composés de liaisons de fibre monomode, à une pénurie imminente de capacité. La limite non linéaire de la fibre monomode, prédite par la théorie de l'information, ne laisse aucune place à l'amélioration de la capacité de communication par fibre optique. Dans ce contexte, la prochaine technologie de rupture dans les transmissions optiques à haute capacité devrait être le multiplexage par répartition spatiale (SDM). La base du SDM consiste à utiliser différents canaux spatiaux d'une seule fibre optique pour transmettre des données indépendantes. Le SDM fournit ainsi une augmentation de la capacité de transport de données d'un facteur qui dépend du nombre de chemins spatiaux qui sont établis. Une façon de réaliser le SDM consiste à utiliser des fibres faiblement multimodes (FMF) spécialisées, conçues pour présenter un couplage faible entre les modes guidés. Un traitement MIMO réduit peut alors être utilisé pour annuler le couplage résiduel des modes. Dans cette thèse, nous donnons tout d'abord un aperçu des progrès récents du multiplexage par répartition de modes (MDM). Les modes à polarisation linéaire (LP), les modes de moment angulaire orbital (OAM) et les modes vectoriels représentent différentes bases de modes orthogonaux possibles dans la fibre. Nous comparons les travaux utilisant ces modes en termes de conception de fibre proposée, nombre de modes, complexité MIMO et résultats expérimentaux de transmission de données. Ensuite, nous introduisons la modélisation de la fibre optique réalisée avec les solveurs numériques de COMSOL Multiphysics, et nous discutons de quelques travaux utilisant cette modélisation de fibre. Nous proposons une nouvelle FMF, composée d'un noyau hautement elliptique et d'une tranchée adjacente ajoutée pour réduire la perte de courbure des modes d'ordre supérieur. La fibre est conçue et optimisée pour prendre en charge cinq modes spatiaux avec une dégénérescence de polarisation double, pour un total de dix canaux. La fibre proposée montre une différence d'indice effectif entre les modes spatiaux supérieure à 1 × 10-3sur la bande C. Ensuite, nous fabriquons la fibre avec un procédé standard de dépôt chimique en phase vapeur modifié (MCVD), et nous caractérisons la fibre en laboratoire. La caractérisation expérimentale a révélé que la fibre présente une propriété de maintien de polarisation. Ceci est obtenu grâce à la combinaison de la structure centrale asymétrique et de la contrainte thermique introduite lors de la fabrication. Nous mesurons la biréfringence avec une technique de réseau de Bragg inscrit dans la fibre (FBG). En incluant la contrainte thermique dans notre modélisation de fibre, un bon accord est obtenu entre la biréfringence simulée et mesurée. Nous avons réussi à effectuer la première transmission de données sur la fibre proposée, en transmettant deux signaux QPSK sur les deux polarisations de chaque mode spatial, sans utiliser de traitement MIMO. Enfin, nous présentons une amélioration d'une technique d'interférométrie hyperfréquence (MICT) précédemment proposée, afin de mesurer expérimentalement la perte en fonction du mode (MDL) des groupes de modes FMF. En conclusion, nous résumons les résultats et présentons les perspectives d'avenir de cette recherche. En résumé, de nouveaux FMF doivent être étudiés si nous voulons résoudre la pénurie imminente de capacité de nos technologies système. Les résultats de cette thèse indique que le FMF à maintien de polarisation proposée dans cette recherche représente une amélioration significative dans le domaine des systèmes de transmission MDM sans MIMO pour des liaisons de communication courtes ; c’est-à-dire distribuant des données sur une longueur inférieure à 10 km. Nous espérons que ce travail conduira au développement de nouveaux composants SD Mutilisant cette fibre, tels que de nouveaux amplificateurs à fibre, ou de nouveaux multiplexeurs/démultiplexeurs, comme par exemple des coupleurs en mode fibre fusionnée ou des dispositifs photoniques au silicium.The constant and exponential growth of Internet data traffic demand is driving our optical telecommunication networks, mainly composed of single-mode fiber links, to an imminent capacity shortage. The nonlinear limit of the single-mode fiber, predicted by the information theory, leave no room for optical fiber communication capacity improvements. In this direction, the next disruptive technology in high-capacity communication transmissions is expected to be Space Division Multiplexing (SDM). The basic of SDM consists of using different spatial channels of a single optical fiber to transmit information data. SDM thus provides an increase in the data-carrying capacity by a factor that depends on the number of spatial paths that are established. A way to realize SDM is through the use of specialty few-mode fibers (FMFs), designed to have a weak coupling between the guided modes. A reduced MIMO processing can be used to undo the residual mode coupling. In this thesis, we firstly give an overview of the recent progress in mode division multiplexing (MDM). Linearly polarized (LP) modes, orbital angular momentum (OAM) modes and vector modes represent the possible orthogonal modes guided into the fiber. We compare works, making use of those modes, in terms of proposed fiber design, number of modes, MIMO complexity and data transmission experiments. After that, we introduce the optical fiber modelling performed with the numerical solvers of COMSOL Multiphysics, and we discuss some works making use of this fiber modelling. Next, we propose a novel FMF, composed of a highly elliptical core and a surrounding trench added to reduce the bending loss of the higher order modes. The fiber is designed and optimized to support five spatial modes with twofold polarization degeneracy, for a total of ten channels. The proposed fiber shows an effective index difference between the spatial modes higher than 1×10-3 over the C-band. Afterwards, we fabricate the fiber with standard modified chemical vapor deposition (MCVD) process, and we characterize the fiber in the laboratory. The experimental characterization revealed the polarization maintaining properties of the fiber. This is obtained with the combination of the asymmetric core structure and the thermal stress introduced during the fabrication. We measure the birefringence with a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) technique, and we included the thermal stress in our fiber modelling. A good agreement was found between the simulated and measured birefringence. We successfully demonstrate the first data transmission over the proposed fiber, by transmitting two QPSK signals over the two polarizations of each spatial mode, without the use of any MIMO processing. Lastly, we present an improvement of a previously proposed microwave interferometric technique (MICT), in order to experimentally measure the mode dependent loss (MDL) of FMF mode groups. Finally, we present the conclusions and the future perspectives of this research. To conclude, novel FMFs need to be investigated if we want to solve the imminent capacity shortage of our system technologies. We truly believe that the polarization-maintaining FMF proposed in this research represents a significant improvement to the field of MIMO-free MDM transmission systems for short communication links, distributing data over length less than 10 km. We hope that this work will drive the development of new SDM components making use of this fiber, such as new fiber amplifiers, or new mux/demux, as for example fused fiber mode couplers or silicon photonic devices