Mode coupling and its influence on space division multiplexing in step-index plastic-clad silica fibers

Abstract

© 2018 Elsevier Inc. The state of mode coupling in step-index plastic-clad silica fibers is investigated in this article by numerical solving of the time-independent power flow equation. The coupling length Lc at which the equilibrium mode distribution is achieved and the length (zs) of the fiber required for achieving the steady-state mode distribution are obtained. It was found that the plastic clad silica fiber investigated in this work showed a much weaker mode coupling than the plastic-clad silica fibers investigated in earlier works. We have also shown that mode coupling significantly limits the fiber length at which the space division multiplexing (SDM) can be realized with a minimal crosstalk between the neighbor optical channels.