Broadband and low-loss mode scramblers using CO 2 -laser inscribed long-period gratings

We demonstrate broadband and low-loss three-mode and six-mode scramblers employing CO -laser inscribed long-period gratings (LPGs) for space-division multiplexing. Step-index (SI) few-mode fibers are used to avoid mode coupling to the cladding modes. We characterize the mode scramblers using a swept...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inOptics letters Vol. 43; no. 12; p. 2868
Main Authors Zhao, Yunhe, Chen, Haoshuo, Fontaine, Nicolas K, Li, Jiaxiong, Ryf, Roland, Liu, Yunqi
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 15.06.2018
Online AccessGet more information

Cover

More Information
Summary:We demonstrate broadband and low-loss three-mode and six-mode scramblers employing CO -laser inscribed long-period gratings (LPGs) for space-division multiplexing. Step-index (SI) few-mode fibers are used to avoid mode coupling to the cladding modes. We characterize the mode scramblers using a swept-wavelength interferometer. Mode-dependent loss (MDL) and modal transfer matrices over the C+L band are presented. Demonstrated LPGs with negligible MDL and low insertion loss contributed to high-performance CO -laser inscription. The total MDLs induced by the SI fiber with LPGs in three-mode and six-mode scramblers are measured to be 2 and 4 dB, respectively.
ISSN:1539-4794
DOI:10.1364/OL.43.002868