Six mode selective fiber optic spatial multiplexer

Low-loss and compact photonic lantern based on a step-index double cladding fiber

The fulfilment of the adiabatic criterion is indispensable for the realization of a low-loss photonic lantern (PL), concurrently imposing a stringent restriction on the taper transition length of the PL. Here, by relaxing the adiabatic criterion, a low-loss and compact PL based on a step-index double cladding fiber (SI-DCF) is theoretically proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The use of SI-DCF can reduce the mode field diameter (MFD) expansion ratio during the tapering processing and greatly decrease the taper transition length required for adiabatic tapering. We initially evaluate the variation of both MFD and effective refractive index (RI) along the fiber tapering based on three types of fiber structures, including the modified standard single-mode fiber (SSMF), the graded-index fiber (GIF), and the proposed SI-DCF. In comparison with the commonly used fiber geometry, the SI-DCF can reduce the MFD expansion ratio from 77.73% to 38.81%, leading to more than half reduction of the tapering length for both 3-mode and 6-mode PLs. Then, two kinds of SI-DCF with different core diameters are fabricated to realize a 3-mode PL. The fabricated PL possesses a 1.5 cm tapering length and less than 0.2 dB insertion loss (IL). After splicing with the commercial few-mode fiber, the PL has an average IL of 0.6 dB and more than 13 dB LP11 mode purity over the C-band. Finally, a transfer matrix measurement indicates that the fabricated PLs have a mode coupling of less than -10 dB at 1550 nm.

Improvement of differential modal gain in a ring-core few-mode erbium-doped polymer optical waveguide amplifier

A few-mode erbium-doped waveguide amplifier (FM-EDWA) with a confined Er3+ doped ring structure is proposed to equalize the differential modal gain (DMG). The FM-EDWA amplifying three spatial modes (LP01, LP11a and LP11b) is optimized by genetic algorithm and fabricated using precise lithography overlay alignment technology. We observe gain values of over 14 dB for all modes with DMG of 0.73 dB at 1529 nm pumped only with LP01 for the power of 200 mW. Furthermore, a flat gain of more than 10 dB is demonstrated across 1525-1565 nm, with a sufficiently low DMG of less than 1.3 dB.

Three-dimensional mode multiplexer based on adiabatic-tapered waveguides forming vertical directional couplers over C + L band and beyond

We present a mode multiplexer based on vertical directional couplers that are formed by adiabatic-tapered waveguides. We design and fabricate the device via the micro-fabrication processing to (de)multiplex the E₁₁, E₂₁, and E₁₂ modes from the few-mode bus waveguide. Our experimental device shows a coupling ratio higher than 98.6% and 97.0% for the E₂₁ and E₁₂ modes, respectively, over the C + L band and beyond. The modal cross talk of this device can be lower than -17.1 dB, -18.4 dB, and -15.1 dB caused by the unintended E₁₁, E₂₁, and E₁₂ modes, respectively. This mode multiplexer can work over a broader wavelength range with weak polarization sensitivity, which could be used in the mode-division-multiplexing systems where mode (de)multiplexing is required in the expanded communication wavelength window other than the C-band.

Low-crosstalk mode-group demultiplexers based on Fabry-Perot thin-film filters

Mode-group multiplexing (MGM) can increase the capacity of short-reach few-mode optical fiber communication links while avoiding complex digital signal processing. In this paper, we present the design and experimental demonstration of a novel mode-group demultiplexer (MG DeMux) using Fabry-Perot (FP) thin-film filters (TFFs). The MG DeMux supports low-crosstalk mode-group demultiplexing, with degeneracies commensurate with those of graded-index (GRIN) multimode fibers. We experimentally demonstrate this functionality by using a commercial six-cavity TFF that was intended for 100 GHz channel spaced wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) system.

Optimal broadband starlight injection into a single-mode fibre with integrated photonic wavefront sensing

In astronomy and related fields there is a pressing need to efficiently inject light, transmitted through the atmosphere, into a single-mode fibre. However this is extremely difficult due to the large, rapidly changing aberrations imprinted on the light by the turbulent atmosphere. An adaptive optics system must be used, but its effectiveness is limited by non-common-path aberrations and insensitivity to certain crucial modes. Here we introduce a new concept device - the hybrid mode-selective photonic lantern - which incorporates both focal plane wavefront sensing and broadband single-mode fibre injection into a single photonic package. The fundamental mode of an input multimode fibre is directly mapped over a broad (1.5 to 1.8μm) bandwidth to a single-mode output fibre with minimal (<0.1%) crosstalk, while all higher order modes are sent to a fast detector or spectrograph for wavefront sensing. This will enable an AO system optimised for maximum single-mode injection, sensitive to otherwise 'blind' modes and avoiding non-common-path wavefront-sensor aberrations.

Mode-selective modulator and switch based on graphene-polymer hybrid waveguides

The mode-division multiplexing (MDM) is an effective technology with huge development potential to improve the transmission capacity of optical communication system by transmitting multiple modes simultaneously in a few-mode fiber. In traditional MDM technology, the fundamental modes of multiple channels are usually modulated by external individual arranged electro-optic modulators, and then multiplexed into the few-mode fiber or waveguide by a mode multiplexer. However, this is usually limited by large device footprint and high power consumption. Here, we report a mode-selective modulator and switch to individually modulate or switch the TE₁₁, TE₁₂ and TE₂₁ modes in a few-mode waveguide (FMW) to overcome this limitation. Our method is based on the graphene-polymer hybrid platform with four graphene capacitors buried in different locations of the polymer FMW by utilizing the coplanar interaction between the capacitors and spatial modes. The TE₁₁, TE₁₂ and TE₂₁ modes in the FMW can be modulated and switched separately or simultaneously by applying independent gate voltage to different graphene capacitor of the device. Our study is expected to make the selective management of the spatial modes in MDM transmission systems more flexible.

Efficient mode coupling between a few-mode fiber and multi-mode photonic chip with low crosstalk

The mode-division multiplexing technology has been developing slowly in the field of fiber-chip-fiber optical interconnects, mainly limited by the inefficient mode coupling between few-mode fiber and multi-mode photonic chip. Here we propose and design a multi-mode coupler composed of tapered few-mode fiber and silicon integrated multistage waveguide tapers, which allows the direct coupling between high-order fiber modes and high-order waveguide modes with high coupling efficiency and low crosstalk. Based on the edge coupling scheme, the six linear polarization modes (LP01x/y, LP11a x/y, LP11bx/y) in few-mode fiber are firstly coupled into the integrated waveguide with low insertion loss, then the input modes are converted to the desired waveguide modes (TE₀, TE₁, TE₂, TM₀, TM₁, TM₂) with low mode crosstalk relying on the mode evolution principle. The obtained results show that the coupling efficiency is higher than 87%, while for the mode conversion process, the efficiency is higher than 99% and the mode crosstalk is lower than -25 dB. The favorable performance achieved may open new perspectives for diverse mode-division multiplexing applications, enabling efficient capacity scaling in fiber-chip-fiber optical interconnects and optical communication systems.

Demonstration of 10-channel mode- and polarization-division multiplexed free-space optical transmission with successive interference cancellation DSP

We experimentally demonstrate 10-channel mode-division multiplexed free-space optical transmission with five spatial modes, each carrying 19.6925-Gbaud dual-polarization quadrature phase shift keying signals. Strong inter-mode cross talk is observed in our commercially available photonic lantern based system when using a complete orthogonal mode set as independent channels. A successive interference cancellation based multiple-input multiple-output digital signal processing (DSP) algorithm is first applied to mitigate the inter-mode cross talk in mode-division multiplexed systems. The DSP also supports unequal transmit and receive channel numbers to further improve the cross talk resiliency. Compared to the conventional minimum mean square error DSP, the required optical signal-to-noise ratio of the successive interference cancellation DSP is decreased by approximately 5 dB at the hard-decision forward error correction limit. As a result, this system demonstrates a record-high independent channel number of 10 and spectral efficiency of 13.7 b/s/Hz in mode-division multiplexed free-space optical systems.

Few-mode polymer optical waveguide amplifier for mode-division multiplexed transmission

We propose a few-mode erbium-ytterbium codoped polymer optical waveguide amplifier employing mode-selective photonic lanterns capable of multiplexing and demultiplexing. A reconfigurable pump configuration scheme is adopted to balance the modal gain per mode. A square few-mode waveguide amplifier supporting LP₀₁, LP_11a, and LP_11b modes is designed and fabricated. The crosstalk effect and modal profiles are characterized. An average gain of 10.4 dB per mode is obtained in a 1.5 cm waveguide at 1555 nm through pumping of the LP₀₁ mode at 320 mW and the LP_21b mode at 120 mW at 976 nm. The ultralow differential modal gain is 0.4 dB. In addition, simultaneously amplified LP₀₁, LP_11a, and LP_11b modes are also demonstrated across the whole C-band with low noise figures. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of an experimental realization of a few-mode optical waveguide amplifier.

Wavelength-Tunable, Ultra-Broadband, Biconical, Long-Period Fiber Grating Mode Converter Based on the Dual-Resonance Effect

We demonstrated a wavelength-tunable, ultra-wideband, biconical, long-period fiber grating (BLPFG) mode converter in a two-mode fiber based on fusion taper technology and CO₂ laser writing technology. Theoretical and experimental results show that after changing the diameter of the two-mode fiber by fusing and tapering, the dispersion turning point of the fiber is adjusted and wavelength-tunable broadband mode conversion is achieved efficiently. Theoretical simulation shows that the mode conversion bandwidth can cover the O + E + S + C band. In the experiment, we fabricated adiabatic tapers with cladding diameters of 113 μm and 121 μm and wrote gratings on these tapers to achieve dual-resonance coupling, thus realizing mode conversion from LP₀₁ to LP₁₁, with a 15 dB bandwidth of 148.8 nm from 1229.0 nm to 1377.8 nm and of 168.5 nm from 1319.7 nm to 1488.2 nm, respectively. As far as we know, this is the first time that fusion taper technology has been used to adjust the window of the dual-resonant coupling of an optical fiber. This work broadens the scope of application of the dual-resonance effect and proposes a general method for widening the bandwidth of a fiber grating with tunable wavelength.

Planar light-wave circuit-based switchable LP11a-LP11b mode rotator

A simple planar light-wave circuit-based switchable LP_11a-LP_11b mode rotator for reconfigurable mode division multiplexing is proposed, which consists of a polymer waveguide and an electrode heater located on the waveguide. Because of the asymmetric refractive index distribution in the horizontal and vertical directions, induced by the thermo-optic effect, mode rotation between the LP_11a and LP_11b modes can be achieved when the heater is ON but there can be no mode rotation when the heater is OFF. Numerical simulations show that our well-designed mode rotator with optical polymer materials, which has a length of 2750 µm, can achieve a mode conversion efficiency (MCE) larger than 84% over the entire C+L band (1530-1610 nm) and a maximum MCE of 96% at 1550 nm. The switching electric power is 161.5 mW. The calculated temperature within the waveguide core is from 186°C (close to the heater) to 86°C (away from the heater).

Error rate analysis of few-mode fiber based free-space optical communication

Few-mode fiber (FMF) based receiver emerges as a promising solution for free-space optical (FSO) communication due to its excellent performance in the presence of turbulence. We propose a theoretical model that uses the coupling efficiency of FMF to evaluate the performance of FMF-based FSO system in the presence of turbulence. The series solutions and asymptotic solutions to bit-error rate (BER) of such system are derived for maximal-ratio combining (MRC) scheme and equal gain combining (EGC) scheme over the Gamma-Gamma turbulence channels. Simulation results show that for the FMF-based FSO system, the asymptotic BER of MRC and EGC are highly accurate in the large transmitted optical power regimes.

Demonstration of high-efficiency photonic lantern couplers for PolyOculus

The PolyOculus technology produces large-area-equivalent telescopes by using fiber optics to link modules of multiple semi-autonomous, small, inexpensive, commercial-off-the-shelf telescopes. Crucially, this scalable design has construction costs that are >10× lower than equivalent traditional large-area telescopes. We have developed a novel, to the best of our knowledge, photonic lantern approach for the PolyOculus fiber optic linkages that potentially offers substantial advantages over previously considered free-space optical linkages, including much higher coupling efficiencies. We have carried out the first laboratory tests of a photonic lantern prototype developed for PolyOculus, and demonstrated broadband efficiencies of ∼91%, confirming the outstanding performance of this technology.

Broadband mode-selective couplers based on tapered side-polished fibers

We propose the broadband mode-selective coupler (MSC) formed with a side-polished six mode fiber (6MF) and a tapered side-polished small core single-mode fiber (SC-SMF) or an SMF. The MSCs are designed to allow the LP₀₁ mode in the SC-SMF and SMF to completely couple to the LP₀₁, LP₁₁, LP₂₁, LP₀₂, LP₃₁, LP₁₂ modes in the 6MF over a broadband wavelength range. The phase-matching conditions of the MSCs are satisfied by tapering the SC-SMF and SMF to specific diameters. The tapered fibers are side-polished to designed residual fiber thickness using the wheel polishing technique. The effective indices of the side-polished fibers are measured with the prism coupling method. The MSCs provide high coupling ratio and high mode purity. High coupling efficiencies in excess of 81% for all the higher-order modes are obtained in the wavelength range 1530-1600 nm. For the LP₀₁, LP₁₁, LP₂₁, LP₀₂, LP₃₁, LP₁₂ MSCs at 1550 nm, the coupling ratios are 96.2%, 99.8%, 89.5%, 85.0%, 90.9%, 96.1%, respectively, and the mode purity of the MSCs is higher than 88.0%. The loss of the MSCs is lower than 1.8 dB in the wavelength range 1530-1600 nm. This device can be applied in broadband mode-division multiplexing transmission systems.

Recent progress in all-fiber ultrafast high-order mode lasers

Ultrafast high-order mode (HOM) lasers are a relatively new class of ultrafast optics. They play a significant role in the fieldsof scientific research and industrial applications due to the high peak power and unique properties of spatial intensity and polarization distribution. Generation of ultrafast HOM beams in all-fiber systems has become an important research direction. In this paper, all-fiber mode conversion techniques, pulsed HOM laser strategies, and few-mode/multi-mode fiber (FMF/MMF) lasers are reviewed. The main motivation of this review is to highlight recent advances in the field of all-fiber ultrafast HOM lasers, for example, generating different HOM pulses based on fiber mode converters and mode-locking in the FMF/MMF lasers. These results suggest that mode selective coupler can be used as a broad bandwidth mode converter with fast response and HOM can be directly oscillated in the FMF/MMF laser cavity with high stability. In addition, spatiotemporal mode-locking in the FMF/MMF is also involved. It is believed that the development of all-fiber ultrafast HOM lasers will continue to deepen, thus laying a good foundation for future applications.

Multiport swept-wavelength interferometer with laser phase noise mitigation employing a broadband ultra-weak FBG array

Optical vector network analyzers (OVNAs) based on swept-wavelength interferometry are applied widely in optical metrology and sensing to measure the complex transfer functions of optical components, devices, and fibers. Phase noise from laser sweep nonlinearities degrades the measurement quality as the distance increases and limits the usage of the OVNA in characterizing systems with long impulse responses as required in space-division multiplexing links with a high mode count or in the presence of large modal differential group delay (DGD). In this Letter, we use a densely distributed broadband ultra-weak fiber Bragg grating array to directly measure the distortion due to phase noise at a 5-m increment up to 400 m and use this measured data to directly eliminate the distortion. We experimentally extend the measurement range of the swept-wavelength OVNA over 400 m and successfully characterize a 2-km six-mode multimode fiber link with an accumulated impulse response as wide as 20 ns.

Mode transmission analysis method for photonic lantern based on FEM and local coupled mode theory

In this paper, a novel full vector numerical simulation method based on the finite element method (FEM) and local coupled mode theory (LCMT) for analyzing the mode transmission characteristics of photonic lantern (PL) with arbitrary input mode field is proposed. Compared with the traditional numerical simulation methods for PL, our method can greatly reduce the computational complexity and ensure high precision. Taking a three-core PL as an example, we verify the validity of our method. The advantages and properties of our method are also discussed in detail and found instructive for optimization design of PL. Through specifically optimizing the geometric parameters of the PL according to the properties, mode selectivity of LP₀₁ and LP₁₁ can be respectively improved up to 44.5 dB and 54.7 dB with more than 95% coupling efficiency.

Long-distance transmission of quantum key distribution coexisting with classical optical communication over a weakly-coupled few-mode fiber

Quantum key distribution (QKD) is one of the most practical applications in quantum information processing, which can generate information-theoretical secure keys between remote parties. With the help of the wavelength-division multiplexing technique, QKD has been integrated with the classical optical communication networks. The wavelength-division multiplexing can be further improved by the mode-wavelength dual multiplexing technique with few-mode fiber (FMF), which has additional modal isolation and large effective core area of mode, and particularly is practical in fabrication and splicing technology compared with the multi-core fiber. Here, we present for the first time a QKD implementation coexisting with classical optical communication over weakly-coupled FMF using all-fiber mode-selective couplers. The co-propagation of QKD with one 100 Gbps classical data channel at -2.60 dBm launched power is achieved over 86 km FMF with 1.3 kbps real-time secure key generation. Compared with single-mode fiber using wavelength-division multiplexing, given the same fiber-input power, the Raman noise in FMF using the mode-wavelength dual multiplexing is reduced by 86% in average. Our work implements an important approach to the integration between QKD and classical optical communication and previews the compatibility of quantum communications with the next-generation mode division multiplexing networks.

Mode-selective few-mode Brillouin fiber lasers based on intramodal and intermodal SBS

Mode-selective fiber lasers have advantages in a number of applications. Here we propose and experimentally demonstrate a transverse mode-selective few-mode Brillouin fiber laser using the mode-selective photonic lantern. We generated the lowest three orders of linearly polarized (LP) modes based on both intramodal and intermodal stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS). Their slope efficiencies, optical spectra, mode profiles, and linewidths were measured.

Observation on temperature and strain dependency of Brillouin dynamic grating in a few-mode fiber with a ring-cavity configuration

We experimentally conduct Brillouin dynamic grating (BDG) operation using a 1-km-long four-mode fiber. By employing a simplified ring-cavity configuration with single-end pumping, the BDG is effectively generated in $ {{\rm LP}_{01}} $LP₀₁ mode within a range of 250 m, and three higher-order modes, namely, $ {{\rm LP}_{11b}} $LP_11b, $ {{\rm LP}_{21a}} $LP_21a, and $ {{\rm LP}_{02}} $LP₀₂, are chosen as probes to analyze the BDG with a spatial resolution of 1 m. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time to characterize the responses of BDG frequency to temperature and strain for different modes in a conventional few-mode fiber. By employing the pump-probe pair of $ {{\rm LP}_{01}}{{\rm - LP}_{02}} $LP₀₁-LP₀₂ mode, the highest temperature and strain sensitivities of 3.21 MHz/°C and $ - 0.0384\;{\rm MHz}/{\unicode{x00B5}}{\unicode{x03B5}} $-0.0384MHz/µε have been achieved. Also, the performance of simultaneously distributed temperature and strain sensing based on BDG is evaluated.

Control over the transverse structure and long-distance fiber propagation of light at the single-photon level

Quantum entanglement is arguably the cornerstone which differentiates the quantum realm from its classical counterpart. While entanglement can reside in any photonic degree of freedom, polarization permits perhaps the most straightforward manipulation due to the widespread availability of standard optical elements such as waveplates and polarizers. As a step towards a fuller exploitation of entanglement in other degrees of freedom, in this work we demonstrate control over the transverse spatial structure of light at the single-photon level. In particular we integrate in our setup all the technologies required for: (i) fibre-based photon pair generation, (ii) deterministic and broadband single-photon spatial conversion relying on a passive optical device, and (iii) single-photon transmission, while retaining transverse structure, over 400 m of few-mode fibre. In our experiment, we employ a mode selective photonic lantern multiplexer with the help of which we can convert the transverse profile of a single photon from the fundamental mode into any of the supported higher-order modes. We also achieve conversion to an incoherent or coherent addition of two user-selected higher order modes by addressing different combinations of inputs in the photonic lantern multiplexer. The coherent nature of the addition, and extraction of usable orbital angular momentum at the single-photon level, is further demonstrated by far-field diffraction through a triangular aperture. Our work could enable studies of photonic entanglement in the transverse modes of a fibre and could constitute a key resource quantum for key distribution with an alphabet of scalable dimension.

Low-crosstalk few-mode EDFAs using retro-reflection for single-mode fiber trunk lines and networks

Few-mode EDFAs with low channel crosstalk can replace multiple parallel single-mode EDFAs in single-mode fiber trunk lines and networks. Here we proposed a low-crosstalk few-mode EDFA by exploiting the unitary property of the coupling matrix of a symmetric photonic lantern. We experimentally demonstrated a 3-channel few-mode EDFA using retro-reflection of a 3-mode symmetric photonic lantern. The small signal gain for all three channels are measured to be larger than 25 dB over the entire C-band and the crosstalks are below -10 dB.

1.3 μm fiber grating in a thin-core fiber for LP01-LP11 mode converters and sensing ability

We demonstrate an all-fiber structure that can realize LP₀₁-LP₁₁ mode conversion and twist measurement. It is a thin-core fiber (TCF) grating at a wavelength of 1310 nm cascaded to a short segment of a TCF of a different core size. It is found that the different core size of the TCF between the fiber and the grating has an impact on the excitation of a higher-order mode and mode conversion efficiency. The fiber structure exhibits a good linear response to twisting, strain, and temperature. Depending on the associated mode, the mode intensity and the wavelength for exciting the peaks of the grating have different sensitivities to twisting angle, applied strain, and temperature. These properties can be exploited for simultaneous measurement.

Accelerated nonlinear interactions in graded-index multimode fibers

Multimode optical fibers have recently reemerged as a viable platform for addressing a number of long-standing issues associated with information bandwidth requirements and power-handling capabilities. As shown in recent studies, the complex nature of such heavily multimoded systems can be effectively exploited to observe altogether novel physical effects arising from spatiotemporal and intermodal linear and nonlinear processes. Here, we study for the first time, accelerated nonlinear intermodal interactions in core-diameter decreasing multimode fibers. We demonstrate that in the anomalous dispersion region, this spatiotemporal acceleration can lead to relatively blue-shifted multimode solitons and blue-drifting dispersive wave combs, while in the normal domain, to a notably flat and uniform supercontinuum, extending over 2.5 octaves. Our results pave the way towards a deeper understanding of the physics and complexity of nonlinear, heavily multimoded optical systems, and could lead to highly tunable optical sources with very high spectral densities.

Multimode optical fibers can be used to observe complex intermodal processes like optical solitons. Here, Eftekhar et al. study accelerated nonlinear interaction in multimode fibers with a tapered core diameter and its effect on the temporal and spectral behavior of the multimode solitons.

Transverse mode-switchable fiber laser based on a photonic lantern

We propose and experimentally demonstrate an intra-cavity transverse mode-switchable fiber laser based on a mode-selective photonic lantern and a few-mode Er-doped fiber amplifier. The six lowest-order LP modes can lase independently and are switchable by changing the input port of the photonic lantern. We measured the slope efficiency, mode intensity profile, and optical spectrum of each lasing mode. In addition, we demonstrate donut-shaped LP₁₁ and LP₂₁ modes using incoherent superposition and simultaneous lasing of the two degenerate modes.

Photonic lantern broadband orbital angular momentum mode multiplexer

Optical vortex beams that carry orbital angular momentum (OAM), also known as OAM modes, have attracted considerable interest in recent years as they can comprise an additional degree of freedom for a variety of advanced classical and quantum optical applications. While canonical methods of OAM mode generation are effective, a method that can simultaneously generate and multiplex OAM modes with low loss and over broad spectral range is still in great demand. Here, via novel design of an optical fiber device referred to as a photonic lantern, where the radial mode index ("m") is neglected, for the first time we demonstrate the simultaneous generation and multiplexing of OAM modes with low loss and over the broadest spectral range to date (550 nm). We further confirm the potential of this approach to preserve the quality of studied OAM modes by fusion splicing the end-facet of the fabricated device to a delivery ring-core fiber (RCF).

Scaling photonic lanterns for space-division multiplexing

We present a new technique allowing the fabrication of large modal count photonic lanterns for space-division multiplexing applications. We demonstrate mode-selective photonic lanterns supporting 10 and 15 spatial channels by using graded-index fibres and microstructured templates. These templates are a versatile approach to position the graded-index fibres in the required geometry for efficient mode sampling and conversion. Thus, providing an effective scalable method for large number of spatial modes in a repeatable manner. Further, we demonstrate the efficiency and functionality of our photonic lanterns for optical communications. Our results show low insertion and mode dependent losses, as well as enhanced mode selectivity when spliced to few mode transmission fibres. These photonic lantern mode multiplexers are an enabling technology for future ultra-high capacity optical transmission systems.

All-fiber polarization beam splitting and rotating based on vector-mode-assisted coupling

We propose and design a new kind of all-fiber polarization beam splitter and rotator (PBS and PBR) based on vector-mode-assisted coupling. By embedding a high-contrast-index ring-core between two cores of the conventional fiber couplers, being a three-core coupling structure, the state of polarization (SOP) of fiber-guided modes can be availably controlled, such as polarization splitting and rotating, by transitional coupling through TM₀₁ or TE₀₁ vector mode. Furthermore, the SOP of coupled mode can be rotated with arbitrary angle under different three-core layouts. In particular, by exploiting HE₂₁-assisted coupling case, we can realize full-dimensional SOP rotation for arbitrary polarization input. We give the numerical simulation for the proposed all-fiber PBS and PBR, and investigate the corresponding polarization extinction ratio and polarization rotating purity in detail. The calculation results manifest a favorable performance on SOP management of fiber-guided modes. This vector-mode-assisted coupling might be expected to find potential applications in the polarization-based optical signal processing, multiplexing, and sensing system.

Triple-clad photonic lanterns for mode scaling

We propose a novel triple-clad photonic lanterns for mode scaling. This novel structure alleviates the adiabatic tapering requirement for the fabrication of large photonic lanterns. A 10-mode photonic lantern with insertion losses ranging from 0.6 to 2.0 dB across all the modes and a record-low pairwise 4-dB mode-dependent loss at C-band was demonstrated.

Reconfigurable broadband mode (de)multiplexer based on an integrated thermally induced long-period grating and asymmetric Y-junction

We propose a reconfigurable broadband mode (de)multiplexer based on a thermally induced long-period grating integrated with an asymmetric Y-junction. Either of the two spatial modes of a two-mode waveguide launched into the grating end of the device can be switched into either of the two output ports of the Y-junction by controlling the electric power applied to the electrode heater that induces the grating. Our typical device fabricated with polymer material that has a length of ∼14  mm shows a mode selectivity higher than 12 dB over the C+L band at a switching power of 198 mW. The device could find applications in reconfigurable mode-division-multiplexing systems.

Ultra-Wide-Bandwidth Tunable Magnetic Fluid-Filled Hybrid Connected Dual-Core Photonic Crystal Fiber Mode Converter

We propose a tunable magnetic fluid-filled hybrid photonic crystal fiber mode converter. Innovative design principles based on the hybrid connected dual-core photonic crystal fiber and magnetically modulated optical properties of magnetic fluid are developed and numerically verified. The mode converter was designed to convert LP11 in the index-guiding core to the LP01 mode in the photonic bandgap-guiding core. By introducing the magnetic fluid into the air-hole located at the center of the photonic bandgap-guiding core, the mode converter can realize a high coupling efficiency and an ultra-wide bandwidth. The coupling efficiency can reach up to 99.9%. At a fixed fiber length, by adjusting the strength of the magnetic field, the coupling efficiency can reach up to 90% and 95% at wavelengths in the ranges of 1.33 µm–1.85 µm and 1.38 µm–1.75 µm, with bandwidth values reaching 0.52 µm and 0.37 µm, respectively. Moreover, it has a good manufacturing flexibility. The mode converter can be used to implement wideband mode-division multiplexing of few-mode optical fiber for high-capacity telecommunications.

Broadband mode switch based on a three-dimensional waveguide Mach-Zehnder interferometer

We propose a mode switch that operates on modulating the optical phases of a three-dimensional balanced four-arm waveguide Mach-Zehnder interferometer. We design and fabricate the device with polymer material to achieve thermo-optic switching between any two of the E₁₁, E₂₁, E₁₂, and E₂₂ modes of the waveguide. Our experimental device shows an extinction ratio higher than 14 dB and a switching time shorter than 3.7 ms, measured with the E₁₁ mode switched to any of the other modes at 1550 nm. This mode switch can operate over a wide range of wavelengths with weak polarization dependence and could be used in reconfigurable fiber-based mode-division-multiplexing systems where mode routing is required.

Design of elliptical-core mode-selective photonic lanterns with six modes for MIMO-free mode division multiplexing systems

Elliptical-core few mode fiber (EC-FMF) is used in a mode division multiplexing (MDM) transmission system to release multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) digital-signal-processing, which reduces the cost and the complexity of the receiver. However, EC-FMF does not match with conventional multiplexers/de-multiplexers (MUXs/DeMUXs) such as a photonic lantern, leading to extra mode coupling loss and crosstalk. We design elliptical-core mode-selective photonic lanterns (EC-MSPLs) with six modes, which can match well with EC-FMF in MIMO-free MDM systems. Simulation of the EC-MSPL using the beam propagation method was demonstrated employing a combination of either step-index or graded-index fibers with six different sizes of cores, and the taper transition length of 8 cm or 4 cm. Through numerical simulations and optimizations, both types of photonic lanterns can realize low loss transmission and low crosstalk of below -20.0  dB for all modes.

All-fiber few-mode multicore photonic lantern mode multiplexer

The emergence of space division multiplexing (SDM) for ultrahigh capacity networks has heralded pioneering Petabit-class optical transmission systems. In parallel to novel SDM fibers, a new class of components to enable scalable, low-loss schemes for unlocking fiber capacity is being developed. In this work, an all-fiber mode selective photonic lantern mode multiplexer designed for launching into few-mode multicore fibers is demonstrated. This device is capable of selectively exciting LP₀₁, LP_11a and LP_11b modes in a seven-core configuration, resulting in 21 spatial channels, with less than 38 dB core-to-core crosstalk and insertion loss below 0.4 dB. The multicore photonic lantern multiplexer is scalable to larger number of cores and modes per core, and can be easily integrated with emerging ultra-high bandwidth few-mode multicore optical communication systems.

Tailoring frequency generation in uniform and concatenated multimode fibers

We demonstrate that frequency generation in multimode parabolic-index fibers can be precisely engineered through appropriate fiber design. This is accomplished by exploiting the onset of a geometric parametric instability that arises from resonant spatiotemporal compression. By launching the output of an amplified Q-switched microchip laser delivering 400 ps pulses at 1064 nm, we observe a series of intense frequency sidebands that strongly depend on the fiber core size. The nonlinear frequency generation is analyzed in three fiber samples with 50 μm, 60 μm, and 80 μm core diameters. We further demonstrate that by cascading fibers of different core sizes, a desired frequency band can be generated from the frequency lines parametrically produced in each section. The observed frequency shifts are in good agreement with analytical predictions and numerical simulations. Our results suggest that core scaling and fiber concatenation can provide a viable avenue in designing optical sources with tailored output frequencies.

Ultra-broadband mode multiplexers based on three-dimensional asymmetric waveguide branches

We propose a three-dimensional waveguide mode multiplexer structure that operates on the principle of adiabatic mode transition along multilayer asymmetric waveguide branches. Using this structure, we designed and fabricated a three-mode and a four-mode multiplexer with polymer material that can operate over the C+L band and beyond with small modal crosstalk (<-10  dB) and negligible polarization dependence and be directly connected to fibers with low loss. These multiplexers could be used as mode-selective devices for ultra-broadband mode-division multiplexing based on few-mode fibers.

Few-mode erbium-doped fiber amplifier with photonic lantern for pump spatial mode control

We demonstrate a few-mode erbium-doped fiber amplifier employing a mode-selective photonic lantern for controlling the modal content of the pump light. Amplification of six spatial modes in a 5 m long erbium-doped fiber to ∼6.2  dBm average power is obtained while maintaining high modal fidelity. Through mode-selective forward pumping of the two degenerate LP₂₁ modes operating at 976 nm, differential modal gains of <1  dB between all modes and signal gains of ∼16  dB at 1550 nm are achieved. In addition, low differential modal gain for near-full C-band operation is demonstrated.

Characterization of Rayleigh backscattering arising in various two-mode fibers

We experimentally characterize the mode dependent characteristics of Rayleigh backscattering (RB) arising in various two-mode fibers (TMFs). With the help of an all-fiber photonic lantern, we are able to measure the RB power at individual modes. Consequently, mode dependent power distribution of RB light caused by arbitrary forward propagation mode superposition can be obtained. The total RB power of the TMFs under test is higher than that of single mode fiber by at least 2 dB over the C band. Meanwhile, the RB light occurs among all guided modes in the TMFs with specific power ratios. The experimental characterization agrees well with the theoretical calculations.

Mode-selective amplification in a large mode area Yb-doped fiber using a photonic lantern

We demonstrate selective spatial mode amplification in a few mode, double-clad Yb-doped large mode area (LMA) fiber, utilizing an all-fiber photonic lantern. Amplification to multi-watt output power is achieved while preserving high spatial mode selectivity. We observe gain values of over 12 dB for all modes: LP₀₁, LP_11a, and LP_11b, when amplified individually. Additionally, we investigate the simultaneous amplification of LP₀₁+LP_11a and LP_11a+LP_11b, and the resultant mode competition. The proposed architecture allows for the reconfigurable excitation of spatial modes in the LMA fiber amplifiers, and represents a promising method that could enable dynamic spatial mode control in high power fiber lasers.

Mode-dependent characterization of photonic lanterns

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a simple method for characterizing the power transfer matrix of photonic lanterns (PLs) used for mode division multiplexing (MDM) transmission. Due to the optical reflection arising at output facet of the few-mode fiber (FMF), we are able to detect the power at the individual single-mode fiber (SMF) input port and exploit a series of equations based on the theory of energy conservation to obtain mode-dependent characteristics of the PL, including the property of mode selectivity, insertion loss (IL), and channel-dependent loss (CDL). The proposed method is experimentally verified for both the mode selective and the nonmode selective photonic lanterns.

Bending sensor combining multicore fiber with a mode-selective photonic lantern

A bending sensor is demonstrated using the combination of a mode-selective photonic lantern (PL) and a multicore fiber. A short section of three-core fiber with strongly coupled cores is used as the bend sensitive element. The supermodes of this fiber are highly sensitive to the refractive index profiles of the cores. Small bend-induced changes result in drastic changes of the supermodes, their excitation, and interference. The multicore fiber is spliced to a few-mode fiber and excites bend dependent amounts of each of the six linearly polarized (LP) modes guided in the few-mode fiber. A mode selective PL is then used to demultiplex the modes of the few-mode fiber. Relative power measurements at the single-mode PL output ports reveal a high sensitivity to bending curvature and differential power distributions according to bending direction, without the need for spectral measurements. High direction sensitivity is demonstrated experimentally as well as in numerical simulations. Relative power shifts of up to 80% have been measured at radii of approximately 20 cm, and good sensitivity was observed with radii as large as 10 m, making this sensing system useful for applications requiring both large and small curvature measurements.

10 Spatial mode transmission using low differential mode delay 6-LP fiber using all-fiber photonic lanterns

To unlock the cost benefits of space division multiplexing transmission systems, higher spatial multiplicity is required. Here, we investigate a potential route to increasing the number of spatial mode channels within a single core few-mode fiber. Key for longer transmission distances and low computational complexity is the fabrication of fibers with low differential mode group delays. As such in this work, we combine wavelength and mode-division multiplexed transmission over a 4.45 km low-DMGD 6-LP-mode fiber by employing low-loss all-fiber 10-port photonic lanterns to couple light in and out of the fiber. Hence, a minimum DMGD of 0.2 ns (maximum 0.357 ns) is measured after 4.45 km. Instrumental to the multi-mode transmission system is the employed time-domain-SDM receiver, allowing 10 spatial mode channels (over both polarizations) to be captured using only 3 coherent receivers and real-time oscilloscopes in comparison with 10 for conventional methods. The spatial channels were unraveled using 20 × 20 multiple-input multiple-output digital signal processing. By employing a novel round-robin encoding technique, stable performance over a long measurement period demonstrates the feasibility of 10x increase in single-core multi-mode transmission.

Compact three-core fibers with ultra-low differential group delays for broadband mode-division multiplexing

An approximate explicit condition for the achievement of zero differential group delay (DGD) in a homogeneous multicore fiber (MCF) is presented and verified numerically for a step-index three-core fiber. This condition is explored for the study of compact three-core fibers with low DGDs. To achieve an ultra-low DGD in the C-band, a three-core fiber with a central refractive-index dip in each core is proposed and analyzed in detail. A specific design with three touching cores and a core-cladding index difference of 0.3% yields a maximum DGD smaller than 3.2 ps/km in the C-band. The fiber is suitable for broadband mode-division multiplexing applications and the design approach could be applied to MCFs with more cores.

Mode multiplexer based on integrated horizontal and vertical polymer waveguide couplers

We demonstrate a mode demultiplexer with two cascaded few-mode polymer waveguide directional couplers fabricated on the same substrate along the horizontal and vertical directions, respectively. The three waveguides that form the two couplers have the same core size. The horizontal and vertical couplers are designed to provide complete power transfer for the LP(11a) and LP(11b) modes, with the LP(01) mode staying in the central core that incorporates a biconical taper to suppress any remaining LP(11) modes. A typical fabricated demultiplexer, which is 18.5 mm long, shows a coupling ratio higher than ∼96% in the wavelength range of 1530-1570 nm for both couplers. The device shows negligible crosstalk to the LP(01)-mode channel, while the crosstalks to the LP(11)-mode channels are lower than -15.6 and -13.4  dB for the TE and TM polarizations, respectively. The device can be considered polarization insensitive. The propagation losses for the three modes are about 2.0  dB/cm. This device could find applications in mode-division-multiplexing systems.