Optical communications has historically experienced capacity growth by multiplexing many channels, and space-division-multiplexing (SDM) appears to be the next domain to exploit. SDM can encompass multiple spatially overlapping “orthogonal” modes to achieve mode-division-multiplexing (MDM). Key advantages of modal orthogonality are the ability to efficiently (de)multiplex independent data streams and co-propagate them, all with little inherent crosstalk. An MDM approach using orbital angular momentum (OAM) has emerged as a potential method to efficiently multiplex many spatially over-lapping data-carrying beams. This presentation will highlight transmission of multiple OAM beams as well as the various technical challenges in realizing such a system.

Date Published: 28 April 2017
PDF: 1 pages
Proc. SPIE 10120, Complex Light and Optical Forces XI, 101200U (28 April 2017); doi: 10.1117/12.2251520

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 10120:
Complex Light and Optical Forces XI
David L. Andrews; Enrique J. Galvez; Jesper Glückstad, Editor(s)