Chromatic characterization of ion-exchanged glass binary phase plates for mode-division multiplexing

Area of Science:

• Optical engineering
• Materials science

Background:

• Mode-division multiplexing (MDM) in few-mode fibers is crucial for increasing optical network capacity.
• Modal transformers, such as LP plates, are essential components for MDM.
• Wavelength multiplexing necessitates components with stable performance across multiple wavelengths.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate efficient fabrication of monolithic binary phase plates for MDM applications.
• To introduce and validate a novel optical characterization method for assessing the chromatic properties of these phase plates.
• To show that ion-exchange in glass is a viable fabrication technique for broadband MDM components.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of monolithic binary phase plates using ion-exchange in glass.
• Development of an optical characterization technique combining Mach-Zehnder and Michelson interferometry.
• Application of the inverse Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin (IWKB) method for phase plate design and analysis.

Main Results:

• Efficient monolithic binary phase plates for different wavelengths were successfully fabricated.
• The developed interferometric method accurately measured the phase step across various wavelengths.
• The IWKB method proved to be an effective tool for easy and fast design and characterization of phase plates.

Conclusions:

• Ion-exchange in glass is a suitable method for creating broadband phase plates for MDM.
• The combined interferometric and IWKB characterization technique provides a robust way to assess chromatic properties.
• This work facilitates the development of advanced optical networks with increased capacity.