TY - JOUR
AU - Thomson, Robert R.
AB - The thirst for bandwidth in telecommunications networks is becoming ever larger due to bandwidth hungry applicationssuch as video-on-demand. To further increase the bandwidth capacity, engineers are now seeking to imprint informationon the last remaining degree of freedom of the lightwave carrier – space. This has given rise to the field of SpaceDivision Multiplexing (SDM). In essence, the concept of SDM simple; we aim to use the different spatial modes of anoptical fibre as multiplexed data transmission channels. These modes could either be in the form of separate singlemodesin a multicore optical fibre, individual spatial modes of a multimode fibre, or indeed the individual spatial modesof a multimode multicore optical fibre. Regardless of the particular “flavour” of SDM in question, it is clear thatsignificant interfacing issues exist between the optical fibres used in SDM and the conventional single-mode planarlightwave circuits that are essential to process the light (e.g. arrayed waveguide gratings and splitters), and efficientinterconnect technologies will be required. One fabrication technology that has emerged as a possible route to solve theseinterconnection issues is ultrafast laser inscription (ULI), which relies on the use of focused ultrashort laser pulses todirectly inscribe three-dimensional waveguide structures inside a bulk dielectric. In this paper, I describe some of thework that has been conducted around the world to apply the unique waveguide fabrication capabilities of ULI to thedevelopment of 3D photonic components for applications in SDM.
TI - Ultrafast laser inscription of 3D components for spatial multiplexing
JF - Proceedings of SPIE
DO - 10.1117/12.2210883
DA - 2016-02-13
UR - https://www.deepdyve.com/lp/spie/ultrafast-laser-inscription-of-3d-components-for-spatial-multiplexing-xL2xDtAKmJ
SP - 97740O
EP - 97740O-6
VL - 9774
IS - 
DP - DeepDyve
ER -