Mode partition noise (MPN) can become the dominant limitation in 850 nm VCSEL-based multi-mode fiber (MMF) links at high data rates. Fluctuations in the partition of energy between the transverse modes of the VCSEL combined with the chromatic dispersion in the fiber leads to intensity noise at the receiver. The impact of MPN on non-equalized and equalized links has been studied with a numerical model of the VCSEL and MMF. The MPN in 25 Gb/s VCSELs has been investigated by examining noise in individual mode groups isolated using a thin film Fabry-Perot filter. The measured k factor below 0.15 should enable links significantly longer than 100 m at 25 Gb/s and higher data rates.

Date Published: 4 March 2015
PDF: 12 pages
Proc. SPIE 9381, Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers XIX, 938104 (4 March 2015); doi: 10.1117/12.2084269

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 9381:
Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers XIX
Chun Lei; Kent D. Choquette, Editor(s)