Photonic crystal resonators for inverse-designed multi-dimensional optical interconnects.

Area of Science:

• Optical Communications
• Photonics
• Integrated Optics

Background:

• High-capacity optical communication is crucial for meeting growing data demands.
• Existing systems face limitations in spectral efficiency and data throughput.
• Mode-division multiplexing (MDM) offers a path to increase fiber capacity by utilizing spatial modes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a high-capacity optical communication link.
• To leverage novel photonic technologies for enhanced data transmission.
• To investigate the performance of a 400 GHz frequency comb and MDM in a practical link.

Main Methods:

• Experimental demonstration of a 400 Gbit/s optical communication link.
• Utilization of wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) and mode-division multiplexing (MDM).
• Employing a novel 400 GHz frequency comb source based on a chip-scale photonic crystal resonator.
• Using silicon-on-insulator photonic inverse-designed 4x4 MDM structures.

Main Results:

• Achieved a total data rate of 400 Gbit/s over 40 channels.
• Demonstrated error-free data transmission in 34 out of 40 channels.
• Required optical receiver power was less than -10 dBm for successful transmission.
• The 4x4 MDM structures enabled a fourfold increase in data capacity.

Conclusions:

• The study successfully demonstrates a high-capacity optical communication link.
• Novel photonic technologies, including a chip-scale frequency comb and MDM, are effective for increasing data rates.
• The results show the potential for future optical networks with significantly higher bandwidth.