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Component characterization is fundamental for understanding the limits of optical devices, sub-systems, and transmission systems. With the introduction of space division multiplexing in optical fiber transmission systems, new impairments, such as mode dependent loss and differential mode dispersion arise. Spatially-diverse optical vector network analyzers are capable of measuring these characteristics in a fast single sweep over a very large bandwidth. As a result of this large bandwidth, these analyzers are sensitive to differential chromatic dispersion within the interferometric measurement setup. This study discusses the influence and compensation of differential chromatic dispersion in such systems. Partial chromatic dispersion compensation is demonstrated to improve the representation and accuracy of impulse response measurements obtained from optical vector network analyzers for fibers and components with large differential chromatic dispersion. Analysis of a 39-core few-mode multi-core fiber is discussed, reporting variances of −2.9–0.1 ps/nm, and 0.6–6.9 ps/nm for the two mode groups, respectively, between the few-mode cores. A correlation with the total impulse response is observed. Furthermore, a maximum propagation skew of 20 ns between cores is observed after 13.6 km. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrated simultaneous usage of 228 spatial channels (effectively) within a strand of fiber. We fabricated a 13-km 39-core 3-mode fiber and constructed a bi-directional space division multiplexing (SDM) transmission setup by using cascaded spatial multiplexers on both fiber ends. Aggregated intercore crosstalk and return loss of the system were below −35 and above 31 dB, respectively, over the C and L bands. The feasibility of using bi-directional SDM transmission was investigated using 10 GBaud, 37.38-Gb/s dual-polarization QPSK signals at 1550 nm and coherent detection with a 6 × 6 multi-input-multi-output equalizer. Excellent transmission properties were obtained for most spatial channels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Space division multiplexing (SDM) is mainly seen as a means to increase data throughput and handle exponential traffic growth in future optical networks. But its role is certainly more diverse. Research on SDM encourages device integration, brings newfunctionality to network elements, and helps optical networks to evolve. As a result, the number of individual components in future networks will decrease, which in turn will improve overall network reliability and reduce power consumption as well as operational expenditure. After reviewing the state-of-the-art in SDMfiber research and development with a particular focus on weakly coupled single-mode multi-core fibers, we take a look beyond the capabilities of SDM as a means of boosting transmission capacity and discuss ideas and concepts on howto exploit the spatial dimension for improved efficiency and resource sharing in optical networks. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We discuss optical transmission using homogeneous, single-mode, multicore fibers. We first describe the key fiber properties that can affect transmission, such as intercore crosstalk and the variation of propagation delay between cores, and the consequences of these properties on spatial super-channel transmission. We then describe a series of experiments and demonstrations of system features including self-homodyne detection and joint spatial superchannel modulation before discussing their suitability to high-capacity transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this letter, we report on coupling optics for connecting single-core single-mode fibers with multicore single-mode fibers. After a brief discussion of the options for such coupling systems, we describe our approach of using bulk optics to fabricate low-loss and low-crosstalk devices for both 7- and 19-core multicore fibers with the free-space design approach. This enables the use of the same coupling device with a variety of multicore fibers whose structural parameters differ from one sample to another. We present the results of experimental evaluations of these devices, discuss various causes of insertion loss, and analyze the coupling loss in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]