Abstract
We investigate a few-mode multicore fiber structure suitable for realizing a high spatial density while maintaining a feasible cladding diameter. First, we discuss the impact of cladding diameter on mechanical reliability, and set a target cladding diameter of less than 250 μm to maintain a comparable reliability to conventional fiber. We then optimize the 6-mode core profile to obtain a low differential mode delay (DMD) characteristic and reveal that a hexagonally arranged 19-core structure can realize more than 100 spatial channels with a cladding diameter of less than 250 μm. Finally, we fabricate 6-mode 19-core fiber with a 246 μm cladding diameter and realize a relative core multiplicity factor of more than 60 with a low loss and a DMD of less than 0.24 dB/km and 0.33 ns/km, respectively.
© 2016 IEEE
PDF Article
More Like This
Cited By
You do not have subscription access to this journal. Cited by links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an Optica member, or as an authorized user of your institution.
Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Login to access Optica Member Subscription