Development of multi-element fibres for applications in space-division multiplexing

Abstract

This thesis presents a novel multi-element fibre (MEF) technology for implementing space-division multiplexing (SDM) in optical fibres. MEF comprises multiple fibre-elements that are drawn and coated together using a common polymer coating. In MEF, the fibre-elements are compatible with current technology i. e. the fibre-elements can be directly fusion spliced to standard single mode pigtail fibre. Thus, a smooth upgrade from WDM based systems to SDM system is possible. In this work, MEF technology has been implemented for both, passive SDM fibres and SDM amplifiers.

Erbium-doped Core-pump MEF amplifiers have been demonstrated exhibiting similar gain and noise figure performance to conventional Er-doped fibre amplifier while maintaining ultralow crosstalk levels. In addition, an Erbium/Ytterbium-doped cladding-pumped MEF amplifier has been developed, and a novel technique to achieve a broadband gain has been demonstrated which could cover wavelength region of 1536nm-1615nm using a single multimode pump. Furthermore, MEF technology has been combined with mode-division multiplexing to show that higher spatial multiplicity could be achieved by implementing the MEF with other SDM technologies.

In passive MEFs, the fabricated fibres have been characterised for their loss and transmission properties, showing low loss and error-free transmission. Also, the MEFs are proof-tested showing high strength. The compatibility of MEF fibres have been tested in a concatenated SDM system demonstrating their flexibility in the telecom network.

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Identifiers

ORCID for Jayanta Sahu: orcid.org/0000-0003-3560-6152

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