Reconfigurable photonic integrated mode (de)multiplexer for SDM fiber transmission

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a reconfigurable photonic integrated circuit for mode multiplexing and demultiplexing in few-mode fibers, enabling high-capacity SDM transmission with low crosstalk and dynamic routing.

Contribution

It introduces an Indium-Phosphide-based reconfigurable mode (de)multiplexer with low loss, high selectivity, and dynamic switching capabilities for SDM fiber communication.

Findings

Achieved 10 Gbit/s transmission over two modes with low crosstalk.

Demonstrated a bandwidth of at least 10 nm for the system.

Reconfigurable mode (de)multiplexer with dynamic routing capabilities.

Abstract

A photonic integrated circuit for mode multiplexing and demultiplexing in a few-mode fiber is presented and demonstrated. Two 10 Gbit/s channels at the same wavelength and polarization are simultaneously transmitted over modes LP01 and LP11a of a few-mode fiber exploiting the integrated mode MUX and DEMUX. The proposed Indium-Phosphide-based circuits have a good coupling efficiency with fiber modes with mode-dependant loss smaller than 1 dB. Measured mode excitation cross-talk is as low as -20 dB and a channel cross-talk after propagation and demultiplexing of -15 dB is achieved. An operational bandwidth of the full transmission system of at least 10 nm is demonstrated. Both mode MUX and DEMUX are fully reconfigurable and allow a dynamic switch of channel routing in the transmission system.