Science and technology challenges in XXIst century optical communications

Abstract

Amplificateur à fibre dopée à l'erbium Format de modulation Photonique Limite de Shannon Multiplexage en longueur d'onde Télécommunications optiquesThe state of the art of XXIst century optical communication systems is reviewed through the associated technologies of laser sources, photo-receivers, integrated photonic circuits, optical fibres, and coherent modulation formats. Emphasis is put on current science and technology challenges to approach ultimate physical limits and to develop innovative solutions allowing performance enhancement at minimal cost increase.

Inspection of Defect-Induced Mode Coupling in Hollow-Core Photonic Bandgap Fibers Using Time-of-Flight

“…Hollow-core photonic bandgap fibers (HC-PBGFs) are receiving considerable interest for both high-capacity singlemode and multimode data transmission using mode-division multiplexing, notably in the face of a potential future capacity crunch [1]. Although current state-of-the-art fabrication techniques are generally robust, reliable, and reproducible in their performance, it is still possible that some fibers produced may contain longitudinal defects, particularly over multi-km lengths, and understanding the origin and impact of these will be critical in fabricating long lengths of fiber [2].…”

Hollow-core photonic bandgap fibers: technology and applications

“…Equally remarkable, as a result of sustained technological developments and key advances such as the invention of the erbium doped fibre amplifier (EDFA), the development of Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) and more recently the develop ment of digital coherent transmission, we are close to realising the ultimate practical information carrying transmission capability (~100 TBit/s) of conventional fibres in the laboratory. This capacity limit is imposed by the optical nonlinearity/loss of standard transmission fibres and there is little room left for optimisation of the existing technology [126]. Since their very first demonstration, the possibility that HC-PBGFs might ultimately offer lower losses than solid core fibres was recognised.…”

“…Advances in the use of Digital Signal Processing of coherent optical signals to eliminate cross-talk/modal interference through the Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) concept (which raises the possibility of using each guided mode as the basis of an independent data channel, [128]) is also of high relevance given the multimode nature of candidate designs for low loss HC-PBGFs. Substantial work restarted on investigating HC-PBGFs for data transmission in 2011 [64,126].…”

Demonstration of amplified data transmission at 2 µm in a low-loss wide bandwidth hollow core photonic bandgap fiber

“…In contrast, comparatively little progress has been reported on the transmission fiber itself. More recently, however, the quest for radical solutions to increase transmission capacity per fiber, decrease fiber loss and nonlinearity and reduce signal latency has stimulated interest in novel and more exotic fiber types [1,2]. Highrisk, high-payoff fiber solutions are being actively pursued, which may eventually justify a shift away from the traditional operating wavelengths.…”