Design and Demonstration of Mode Scrambler Supporting 10 Modes Using Multiplane Light Conversion

Broadband Mode Scramblers for Few-Mode Fibers Based on 3D Printed Mechanically Induced Long-Period Fiber Gratings

“…Recently, it has been reported that strong mode coupling [5,6] is highly effective in reducing both the impact of MDL and accumulated DGD and various fiber optic mode scramblers (i.e. devices for inducing effective mode coupling amongst all the guided modes in an optical fiber) have been considered including those based on long-period fiber gratings [7][8][9], phase plates [10], microbends [11] and offset fiber splices/launches [12]. Long-period fiber grating (LPFG) solutions are particularly attractive, representing one of the most effective ways of promoting strong mode coupling with low loss in optical fibers.…”

Wideband and Low-Loss Mode Scrambler for Few-Mode Fibers Based on Distributed Multiple Point-Loads

“…Moreover, in strongly coupled MDM systems each transmitted signal experiences a nearly identical distribution of power amongst the guided modes which can dramatically mitigate any MDL [9] and ensures that the GD spread is proportional to the square root of the transmission distance [10]. In order to achieve strong mode coupling among all spatial modes various mode scramblers have been studied including those based on long-period gratings (LPGs) [11], phase plates [12], microbends [13] and offset fiber launches [14]. Furthermore, the use of mode scramblers has been investigated as a means to reduce the mode dependent gain (MDG) in few mode fiber amplifiers, for example a 1.8-dB MDG reduction was achieved in a 10-mode fiber amplifier using an LPG based mode scrambler [15].…”