Fused-fiber-based 3-dB mode insensitive power splitters for few-mode optical fiber networks

Fang Ren; Xiaoshan Huang; Jianping Wang

doi:10.1117/1.OE.56.11.116101

1 November 2017 Fused-fiber-based 3-dB mode insensitive power splitters for few-mode optical fiber networks

Fang Ren, Xiaoshan Huang, Jianping Wang

Author Affiliations +

Optical Engineering, Vol. 56, Issue 11, 116101 (November 2017). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.OE.56.11.116101

Abstract

We propose a 3-dB mode insensitive power splitter (MIPS) capable of broadcasting and combining optical signals. It is fabricated with two identical few-mode fibers (FMFs) by a heating and pulling technique. The mode-dependent power transfer characteristic as a function of pulling length is investigated. For exploiting its application, we experimentally demonstrate both FMF-based transmissive and reflective star couplers consisting of multiple 3-dB mode insensitive power splitters, which perform broadcasting and routing signals in few-mode optical fiber networks such as mode-division multiplexing (MDM) local area networks using star topology. For experimental demonstration, optical on-off keying signals at 10 Gb/s carried on three spatial modes are successfully processed with open and clear eye diagrams. Measured bit error ratio results show reasonable power penalties. It is found that a reflective star coupler in MDM networks can reduce half of the total amount of required fibers comparing to that of a transmissive star coupler. This MIPS is more efficient, more reliable, more flexible, and more cost-effective for future expansion and application in few-mode optical fiber networks.

Citation Download Citation

Fang Ren, Xiaoshan Huang, and Jianping Wang "Fused-fiber-based 3-dB mode insensitive power splitters for few-mode optical fiber networks," Optical Engineering 56(11), 116101 (1 November 2017). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.OE.56.11.116101

Received: 17 May 2017; Accepted: 17 October 2017; Published: 1 November 2017

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available