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Updated: May 29, 2026

Quasi-light Storage for Optical Data Packets
Published on: February 6, 2014
MIMO capacities and outage probabilities in spatially multiplexed optical transport systems
Peter J Winzer1, Gerard J Foschini
1Bell Labs, Alcatel-Lucent, 791 Holmdel-Keyport Rd., Holmdel, New Jersey 07733, USA. peter.winzer@alcatel-lucent.com
Space-division multiplexing (SDM) is crucial for scaling optical network capacity. This study shows that multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) processing in SDM systems can tolerate significant mode-dependent loss, enabling higher capacities with low outage probability.
Area of Science:
- Optical communications
- Signal processing
- Network engineering
Background:
- Wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) is approaching its capacity limits.
- Space-division multiplexing (SDM) is the next frontier for scaling optical network capacity.
- Integration in SDM systems necessitates multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) signal processing to manage crosstalk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the MIMO capacities of optical SDM systems.
- To analyze outage considerations in SDM systems.
- To determine the impact of distributed optical noise and mode-dependent loss (MDL) on SDM system performance.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of MIMO capacities in optical SDM systems.
- Numerical simulations to extract scaling rules for mode-average and mode-dependent loss.
- Evaluation of system outage probability under various conditions.
Main Results:
- SDM transponders must support individual mode addressing and MIMO processing.
- Mode-dependent loss (MDL) significantly impacts system capacity and outage.
- MIMO SDM systems with up to 128 segments and 128 modes can tolerate 1 dB per-segment MDL at 90% capacity and 10(-4) outage probability.
Conclusions:
- MIMO processing is essential for overcoming crosstalk in integrated SDM systems.
- Understanding and mitigating MDL is critical for achieving high-capacity, low-outage SDM networks.
- The findings provide scaling rules for designing robust and scalable SDM optical transport networks.
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