Dispersion-Diversity Multicore Fiber Signal Processing

Beyond playing a primary role in high-capacity communication networks, multicore optical fibers can bring many advantages to optical and microwave signal processing, as not only space but also chromatic dispersion are introduced as new degrees of freedom. The key lies in developing radically new multicore fibers where the refractive index profile of each individual core is tailored properly to provide parallel dispersion-diversity signal processing with application in a variety of scenarios such as parallel channel equalization, analogue-to-digital conversion, optical computing, pulse generation and shaping, multiparameter fiber sensing, medical imaging, optical coherence tomography, broadband measurement instrumentation, and next-generation fiber-wireless communications. Here, we experimentally prove, for the first time to our knowledge, reconfigurable two-dimensional dispersion-managed signal processing performed by a novel dispersion-diversity heterogeneous multicore fiber. The fiber comprises seven different trench-assisted cores featuring a different refractive index profile in terms of both radial geometry and core dopant concentration. As a representative application case, we demonstrate reconfigurable microwave signal filtering with increased compactness as well as performance flexibility and versatility as compared to previous technologies.