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  • Review Article
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Space-division multiplexing in optical fibres

Nature Photonics volume 7, pages 354–362 (2013)Cite this article

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This Review summarizes the simultaneous transmission of several independent spatial channels of light along optical fibres to expand the data-carrying capacity of optical communications. Recent results achieved in both multicore and multimode optical fibres are documented.

Abstract

Optical communication technology has been advancing rapidly for several decades, supporting our increasingly information-driven society and economy. Much of this progress has been in finding innovative ways to increase the data-carrying capacity of a single optical fibre. To achieve this, researchers have explored and attempted to optimize multiplexing in time, wavelength, polarization and phase. Commercial systems now utilize all four dimensions to send more information through a single fibre than ever before. The spatial dimension has, however, remained untapped in single fibres, despite it being possible to manufacture fibres supporting hundreds of spatial modes or containing multiple cores, which could be exploited as parallel channels for independent signals.

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Figure 1: The evolution of transmission capacity in optical fibres as evidenced by state-of-the-art laboratory transmission demonstrations.
Figure 2: Different approaches for realizing SDM.
Figure 3: The many components needed to fully exploit the advantages of high-density SDM.
Figure 4: 1.01 Pbit s−1 MCF WDM/SDM/PDM transmission experiment22.
Figure 5: 57.7 Tbit s−1 amplified WDM/MDM/PDM transmission experiment over a few-mode fibre34,102.

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Acknowledgements

D.J.R. thanks his colleagues and collaborators on the European Union Framework 7 funded MODEGAP project (258033) and the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) funded Hyperhighway project (EP/I01196X/1) for discussions.

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  1. Optoelectronics Research Centre, University of Southampton, Highfield, SO17 1BJ, Southampton, UK

    D. J. Richardson

  2. OFS Laboratories, 19 Schoolhouse Road, Somerset, 08873, New Jersey, USA

    J. M. Fini

  3. AT&T Labs Research, 200 S. Laurel Avenue, Middletown, 07747, New Jersey, USA

    L. E. Nelson

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Richardson, D., Fini, J. & Nelson, L. Space-division multiplexing in optical fibres. Nature Photon 7, 354–362 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2013.94

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