Overcoming degradation in spatial multiplexing systems with stochastic nonlinear impairments

Area of Science:

• Optical Communications
• Nonlinear Optics
• Fiber Optics

Background:

• Single-mode optical fibers are nearing limits due to the nonlinear Kerr effect.
• Spatial multiplexing offers additional pathways but is complex with nonlinearities.
• Current belief is that nonlinearity mitigation and spatial multiplexing are mutually exclusive.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate linear and nonlinear crosstalk in few-mode fiber optical communications.
• To demonstrate that performance benefits are possible even with significant signal mixing.
• To explore compensation strategies for nonlinear Kerr effects in multiplexed systems.

Main Methods:

• Numerical investigation of linear and nonlinear crosstalk.
• Analysis of signal mixing in few-mode fibers.
• Development and application of compensation strategies for linear mixing regimes.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated that performance benefits are achievable in the presence of significant random signal mixing.
• Showed that the impact of linear mixing on Kerr nonlinearities must be considered.
• Identified different compensation strategies for different linear mixing regimes.

Conclusions:

• Performance in optical communication systems can be more than doubled.
• Appropriate selection of compensation methods is crucial for specific fiber characteristics.
• The study challenges the belief that nonlinearity mitigation and spatial multiplexing are mutually exclusive.