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

Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) is a modulation technique which is now used in most new and emerging broadband wired and wireless communication systems because it is an effective solution to intersymbol interference caused by a dispersive channel. Very recently a number of researchers have shown that OFDM is also a promising technology for optical communications. This paper gives a tutorial overview of OFDM highlighting the aspects that are likely to be important in optical applications. To achieve good performance in optical systems OFDM must be adapted in various ways. The constraints imposed by single mode optical fiber, multimode optical fiber and optical wireless are discussed and the new forms of optical OFDM which have been developed are outlined. The main drawbacks of OFDM are its high peak to average power ratio and its sensitivity to phase noise and frequency offset. The impairments that these cause are described and their implications for optical systems discussed.

OFDM for Optical Communications

Differential-phase-shift keying (DPSK) has recently been used to reach record distances in long-haul lightwave communication systems. This paper will review theoretical, as well as implementation, aspects of DPSK, and discuss experimental results.

Optical phase-shift-keyed transmission

We present theoretical and simulation results for the performance of asymmetrically-clipped optical OFDM (ACO-OFDM) and DC-biased optical OFDM (DCO-OFDM) in AWGN for intensity-modulated direct-detection systems. Constellations from 4 QAM to 1024 QAM are considered. For DCO-OFDM, the optimum bias depends on the constellation size which limits its performance in adaptive systems. ACO-OFDM requires less optical power for a given data rate than DCO-OFDM for all but the largest constellations and is better suited to adaptive systems as the same structure is optimum for all constellations.

Comparison of Asymmetrically Clipped Optical OFDM and DC-Biased Optical OFDM in AWGN

Space-division multiplexing (SDM) uses multiplicity of space channels to increase capacity for optical communication. It is applicable for optical communication in both free space and guided waves. This paper focuses on SDM for fiber-optic communication using few-mode fibers or multimode fibers, in particular on the critical challenge of mode crosstalk. Multiple-input–multiple-output (MIMO) equalization methods developed for wireless communication can be applied as an electronic method to equalize mode crosstalk. Optical approaches, including differential modal group delay management, strong mode coupling, and multicore fibers, are necessary to bring the computational complexity for MIMO mode crosstalk equalization to practical levels. Progress in passive devices, such as (de)multiplexers, and active devices, such as amplifiers and switches, which are considered straightforward challenges in comparison with mode crosstalk, are reviewed. Finally, we present the prospects for SDM in optical transmission and networking.

Space-division multiplexing: the next frontier in optical communication

Die Erfindung betrifft ein Verfahren zur Uberwachung der Ubertragungsqualitat eines optischen Ubertragungssystems, insbesondere eines optischen Wellenlangenmultiplexnetzes, bei welchem ein Amplitudenhistogramm eines uber das Ubertragungssystem ubertragenen optischen Signals (Ubertragungssignal) aufgezeichnet und mittels eines Neuronalen Netzes nach Bitfehlerraten und/oder Storungsursachen klassifiziert wird. Die Erfindung vermeidet es, an das Ubertragungssystem hinsichtlich Ubertragungsmodus, -format und/oder -takt Anforderungen zu stellen, sondern ist an beliebigen Signalen durchfuhrbar. Des weiteren ermoglicht die Erfindung die Zuordnung zu Storungsursachen, die von einer herkommlichen Bitraten-Klassifikation nicht erfasbar sind.

Verfahren zur überwachung der übertragungsqualität eines optischen übertragungssystems, insbesondere eines optischen wellenlängenmultiplexnetzes

Today's Metro networks are facing the challenge to transport different services like 2.5 Gbit/s and 10 Gbit/s SDH, Gigabit and 10G Ethernet, and different data formats at costs as low as possible. Particularly due to cost and associated performance reasons wavelength-division multiplex (WDM) transmission systems are an attractive candidate for the Metro area e.g. offering different services over different wavelengths. However, for cost-reduction it is mandatory to avoid expensive components like optical amplifiers (OAs) and dispersion compensating modules (DCMs) whenever possible. This leads to a limited extension of the transparent reach due to e.g. transmitter and receiver characteristics, fiber dispersion, and fiber nonlinearity. It is the object of this paper to investigate the potential of Metro WDM systems and to derive design guidelines without use of OAs and DCMs. Based on computer simulations different fiber infrastructures like Standard Single-Mode Fiber (SSMF, ITU-G.652), positive and negative dispersion Non-Zero Dispersion Shifted Fibers (NZDSF) are analyzed with respect to 2.5 Gbit/s and 10 Gbit/s data rate per channel with low-cost direct and chirp-free external modulation at both data rates. Non-Return-to-Zero- (NRZ-) intensity-modulation is assumed as standard modulation format. At 10 Gbit/s single channel transmission external modulation over pure SSMF results in transmission length of about 50km. Only for high-input powers fiber nonlinearity partly compensates the fiber dispersion and allows an increase in reach up to 90km. For WDM transmission the performance is limited by Self-Phase Modulation (SPM) and Cross-Phase Modulation (XPM) allowing 40x10 Gbit/s uncompensated low-cost transmission over 50km of existing SSMF.

Design guidelines for flexible low-cost metro WDM systems over various fiber types

Probabilistic shaping of quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) is used to enhance the sensitivity of an optical communication system. Sensitivity gains of 0.43 dB and 0.8 dB are demonstrated in back-to-back experiments by shaping of 16QAM and 64QAM, respectively. Further, numerical simulations are used to prove the robustness of probabilistic shaping to a mismatch between the constellation used and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the channel. It is found that, accepting a 0.1 dB SNR penalty, only four shaping distributions are required to support these gains for 64QAM.

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Demonstration of Sensitivity Gains by Probabilistic Shaping for Optical Communication Systems.

We propose a novel technique that allows simultaneous detection of two modulated optical sub-carriers. A proof-of-principle experiment is described and subsequently the performance at high data rates (111Gb/s) is assessed by simulations.

Stereo multiplexing for direct detected optical communication systems

We analyze the complexity of MIMO-equalizers in both strongly and weakly-coupled FMF transmission systems. We found that the blind equalizer in the latter system has significantly smaller complexity than that in the former system.

Norbert Hanik

Papers

Verfahren zur überwachung der übertragungsqualität eines optischen übertragungssystems, insbesondere eines optischen wellenlängenmultiplexnetzes

Design guidelines for flexible low-cost metro WDM systems over various fiber types

Demonstration of Sensitivity Gains by Probabilistic Shaping for Optical Communication Systems.

Stereo multiplexing for direct detected optical communication systems

Comparison of DSP equalizer complexity between strongly and weakly coupled few mode fiber transmission systems