Distinguishing Wavelengths of Optical Beams by OAM Beams Based on an OAM Optical Fiber

Abstract

In order to separate the multiplexed beams with different wavelengths in an all-fiber network, a novel concept of distinguishing different wavelengths by the orbital angular momentum (OAM) beams [i.e., L(topological charge) =1 and $L=-1$ ] based on the OAM fiber is proposed and investigated in the theory and experiments. Meanwhile, a new OAM fiber supporting the first order vector modes (i.e., TE0,1, HE2,1, and TM0,1) is also designed and fabricated. For the sake of verifying the feasibility of the proposed scheme, an experimental platform is anticipated and established. Bit error rates (BERs) and constellation diagrams are employed to evaluate the performance of the proposed schemes with respect to the transmission rate of data (V) and the difference of wavelength between the two input lasers. The simulated and measured results demonstrate that two different wavelengths (i.e., 1548 and 1545 nm) with the cycle of 14 and 10 nm can be distinguished though two OAM beams (i.e., $L=1$ and $L=-1$ ), respectively. The measured BERs and constellation diagrams with respect to data rates (V) depict that the performance of the proposed schemes degenerates with the increment of data rates (V) from 5 to 40 Gb/s. Similarly, the measured BERs and constellation diagrams with respect to the difference of wavelengths also demonstrate that the performance of the proposed scheme can be improved by increasing the difference of wavelengths from 1 to 4 nm.