This Review summarizes the simultaneous transmission of several independent spatial channels of light along optical fibres to expand the data-carrying capacity of optical communications. Recent results achieved in both multicore and multimode optical fibres are documented.

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Space-division multiplexing in optical fibres

We describe a method to estimate the capacity limit of fiber-optic communication systems (or ?fiber channels?) based on information theory. This paper is divided into two parts. Part 1 reviews fundamental concepts of digital communications and information theory. We treat digitization and modulation followed by information theory for channels both without and with memory. We provide explicit relationships between the commonly used signal-to-noise ratio and the optical signal-to-noise ratio. We further evaluate the performance of modulation constellations such as quadrature-amplitude modulation, combinations of amplitude-shift keying and phase-shift keying, exotic constellations, and concentric rings for an additive white Gaussian noise channel using coherent detection. Part 2 is devoted specifically to the "fiber channel.'' We review the physical phenomena present in transmission over optical fiber networks, including sources of noise, the need for optical filtering in optically-routed networks, and, most critically, the presence of fiber Kerr nonlinearity. We describe various transmission scenarios and impairment mitigation techniques, and define a fiber channel deemed to be the most relevant for communication over optically-routed networks. We proceed to evaluate a capacity limit estimate for this fiber channel using ring constellations. Several scenarios are considered, including uniform and optimized ring constellations, different fiber dispersion maps, and varying transmission distances. We further present evidences that point to the physical origin of the fiber capacity limitations and provide a comparison of recent record experiments with our capacity limit estimation.

Capacity Limits of Optical Fiber Networks

Optical wireless communication (OWC) refers to transmission in unguided propagation media through the use of optical carriers, i.e., visible, infrared (IR), and ultraviolet (UV) bands. In this survey, we focus on outdoor terrestrial OWC links which operate in near IR band. These are widely referred to as free space optical (FSO) communication in the literature. FSO systems are used for high rate communication between two fixed points over distances up to several kilometers. In comparison to radio-frequency (RF) counterparts, FSO links have a very high optical bandwidth available, allowing much higher data rates. They are appealing for a wide range of applications such as metropolitan area network (MAN) extension, local area network (LAN)-to-LAN connectivity, fiber back-up, backhaul for wireless cellular networks, disaster recovery, high definition TV and medical image/video transmission, wireless video surveillance/monitoring, and quantum key distribution among others. Despite the major advantages of FSO technology and variety of its application areas, its widespread use has been hampered by its rather disappointing link reliability particularly in long ranges due to atmospheric turbulence-induced fading and sensitivity to weather conditions. In the last five years or so, there has been a surge of interest in FSO research to address these major technical challenges. Several innovative physical layer concepts, originally introduced in the context of RF systems, such as multiple-input multiple-output communication, cooperative diversity, and adaptive transmission have been recently explored for the design of next generation FSO systems. In this paper, we present an up-to-date survey on FSO communication systems. The first part describes FSO channel models and transmitter/receiver structures. In the second part, we provide details on information theoretical limits of FSO channels and algorithmic-level system design research activities to approach these limits. Specific topics include advances in modulation, channel coding, spatial/cooperative diversity techniques, adaptive transmission, and hybrid RF/FSO systems.

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Survey on Free Space Optical Communication: A Communication Theory Perspective

This document provides updates to IEEE Std 802.16's MIB for the MAC, PHY and asso- ciated management procedures in order to accommodate recent extensions to the standard.

IEEE Standard for Local and Metropolitan Area Networks Part 16: Air Interface for Fixed Broadband Wireless Access Systems Draft Amendment: Management Information Base Extensions

Recent changes in how people consume multimedia services are causing an explosive increase in mobile traffic. With more and more people using wireless networks, the demand for the ultra-fast wireless communications systems is increasing. To date, this demand has been accommodated with advanced modulation schemes and signal-processing technologies at microwave frequencies. However, without increasing the carrier frequencies for more spectral resources, it may be quite difficult to keep up with the needs of users. Although there are several alternative bands, recent advances in terahertz-wave (THz-wave) technologies have attracted attention due to the huge bandwidth of THz waves and its potential for use in wireless communications. The frequency band of 275 ~ 3000 GHz , which has not been allocated for specific uses yet, is especially of interest for future wireless systems with data rates of 10 Gb/s or higher. Although THz communications is still in a very early stage of development, there have been lots of reports that show its potential. In this review, we will examine the current progress of THz-wave technologies related to communications applications and discuss some issues that need to be considered for the future of THz communications.

Present and Future of Terahertz Communications

Record capacity transmission of 101.7-Tb/s (370×294-Gb/s) is performed over 3×55 km SSMF using PDM-128QAM-OFDM modulation and pilot-based phase noise mitigation. Achieved spectral efficiency of 11 bits/s/Hz is the highest reported to date for WDM transmission.

101.7-Tb/s (370×294-Gb/s) PDM-128QAM-OFDM transmission over 3×55-km SSMF using pilot-based phase noise mitigation

In this paper, we propose and experimentally demonstrate the first single-? 40 Gb/s and 108 Gb/s multiple-input multiple-output orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) passive optical networks (PON) architecture for next-generation PON systems based on OFDM, polarization multiplexing (POLMUX), and direct detection. Superior performance was exhibited after 20 km SSMF transmission and a 1:32 optical split. The novel POLMUX approach greatly simplified receiver-end hardware compared to coherent detectors, while increasing spectral efficiency to enable 40+ Gb/s data rates. Moreover, the proposed solution achieved the highest single-wavelength downstream transmission reported to date in any PON system. As such, the introduced architecture may be viewed as a highly attractive candidate for next-generation optical access.

108 Gb/s OFDMA-PON With Polarization Multiplexing and Direct Detection

We have proposed and experimentally demonstrated a novel architecture for orthogonal frequency-division- multiplexing (OFDM) wavelength-division-multiplexing passive optical network with centralized lightwave. In this architecture, 16 quadrature amplitude modulation intensity-modulated OFDM signals at 10 Gb/s are utilized for downstream transmission. A wavelength-reuse scheme is employed to carry the upstream data to reduce the cost at optical network unit. By using one intensity modulator, the downstream signal is remodulated for upstream on-off keying (OOK) data at 2.5 Gb/s based on its return-to-zero shape waveform. We have also studied the fading effect caused by double-sideband (DSB) downstream signals. Measurement results show that 2.5-dB power penalty is caused by the fading effect. The fading effect can be removed when the DSB OFDM downstream signals are converted to single sideband (SSB) after vestigial filtering. The power penalty is negligible for both SSB OFDM downstream and the remodulated OOK upstream signals after over 25-km standard single-mode-fiber transmission. Index

Centralized Lightwave WDM-PON Employing 16-QAM Intensity Modulated OFDM Downstream and OOK Modulated Upstream Signals

The first single-λ 108-Gb/s 16QAM-OFDMA-PON is demonstrated using polarization-multiplexed optical OFDM and direct-detection. This is the highest single-λ downstream rate in PON reported to date, achieved over 20 km SSMF and a 1:32 split.

108 Gb/s OFDMA-PON with polarization multiplexing and direct-detection

The ever-increasing bandwidth demand in access systems is catalyzing research and development activity in future ultra high-speed 100 Gb/s passive optical networks. In this article we discuss the principles, key advantages, and most recent demonstrations of a record 100 Gb/s OFDM-based PON as a future PON candidate architecture. Moreover, we provide an analysis of primary cost factors in a practical DSP-based OFDMA-PON implementation and survey the most recent achievements in this domain. Due to the combination of highly attractive advanced features and favorable related trends in longhaul 100 Gb/s fiber transmission, OFDMA-PON can be regarded as a very promising solution for future PON-based access.

Dayou Qian

Papers

101.7-Tb/s (370×294-Gb/s) PDM-128QAM-OFDM transmission over 3×55-km SSMF using pilot-based phase noise mitigation

108 Gb/s OFDMA-PON With Polarization Multiplexing and Direct Detection

Centralized Lightwave WDM-PON Employing 16-QAM Intensity Modulated OFDM Downstream and OOK Modulated Upstream Signals

108 Gb/s OFDMA-PON with polarization multiplexing and direct-detection

100 Gb/s optical access based on optical orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing