Perfect Vortex Modes for Nondestructive Characterization of Mode Dependent Loss in Ring Core Fibers

Ring core fibers (RCF) enable high-performance modal multiplexing with low crosstalk and can support orbital angular momentum (OAM) modes. RCFs are challenging to characterize due to the lack of commercial multiplexers, especially for high OAM orders. For fibers supporting large numbers of modes, ty...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of lightwave technology 2022-10, Vol.40 (19), p.6548-6559
Main Authors: Banawan, Mai, Mishra, Satyendra K., Messaddeq, Younes, LaRochelle, Sophie, Rusch, Leslie A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Angular momentum
Couplings
Crosstalk
Data transmission
Electron beams
Fibers
Indexes
Lenses
mode-dependent loss (MDL)
mode-division-multiplexing (MDM)
Multiplexers
Multiplexing
Optical fiber devices
Optical fiber polarization
Optical fiber testing
Orbital angular momentum (OAM)
perfect vortex (PV)
Refractivity
ring core fiber (RCF)
time-of-flight (ToF)
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Ring core fibers (RCF) enable high-performance modal multiplexing with low crosstalk and can support orbital angular momentum (OAM) modes. RCFs are challenging to characterize due to the lack of commercial multiplexers, especially for high OAM orders. For fibers supporting large numbers of modes, typical cutback techniques for characterization are extremely wasteful of fiber, especially as one cutback is required for each mode. We show the differential modal loss across modes 3 to 10 was significantly underestimated using an OTDR when exciting modes individually or when exciting all modes indiscriminately. We exploit perfect vortex beams to achieve reliable and nondestructive characterization of mode-dependent loss (MDL) for OAM modes. Perfect vortex beams allow us to maximize the coupling efficiency at each mode launch, increasing the accuracy of MDL estimate. We fabricated fiber with a refractive index difference between the ring core and the cladding of a 5.1\times 10^{-2}. For this fiber, mode orders 3 to 10 are the most suitable for data transmission and were the focus of our work (the fiber support up to OAM order 13). Such a high index difference can lead to MDL. We demonstrate that the modal loss spans from 2.14 to 4.38 dB/km for orders 3 to 10.
ISSN:0733-8724
1558-2213
DOI:10.1109/JLT.2022.3195931