Abstract
We describe the principle, design, and prototyping of a free-space-optics-based core selective switch (CSS) for spatial channel (SCh) networks (SCNs) in the age of space division multiplexing (SDM). A CSS in an SCN corresponds to a conventional wavelength selective switch (WSS) in a current wavelength division multiplexing network. It incorporates functionalities for spatially demultiplexing SChs from an input SDM port and for switching and multiplexing any of them into any of output SDM ports. We discuss the design for free-space-optics-based CSSs that is applicable to CSSs supporting various numbers of cores per multicore fiber (MCF) and various numbers of MCF ports. We show an example of an implemented 5-core 1 × 6 CSS prototype that integrates an MCF collimator, spatial multiplexer/demultiplexer array, and liquid-crystal-on-silicon spatial light modulator. Although some output MCF ports exhibit relatively high insertion loss (IL), the CSS prototype shows that a CSS will potentially provide low net IL at the level of approximately 2 dB. To verify that there are no unknown deteriorating factors in the CSS prototype, we tested the prototype implemented in a hierarchical optical cross-connect configuration by measuring the pre-forward error correction bit error rate. Spatial bypassing and spectral grooming of a 900-Gb/s SCh employing a CSS-based spatial cross-connect and a conventional wavelength cross-connect are successfully demonstrated with no optical signal-to-noise ratio penalty.
Highlights
I N ORDER to support the ever-increasing demand for transmission capacity in optical networks while overcoming the fundamental capacity limits of conventional single-mode fibers (SMFs), research over the past 10 years has focused on exploring space as the only remaining physical dimension for signal multiplexing [1]
In an spatial channel network (SCN), a 1 × k core selective switch (CSS) provides functions equivalent to those provided by a conventional wavelength selective switch (WSS) in a current wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) network and incorporates functionalities for spatially demultiplexing spatial channel (SCh) from an input multicore fiber (MCF) and for switching and multiplexing any of them into any of k output MCFs
We discussed the design for free-space-optics based CSSs that is applicable to CSSs supporting various numbers of cores per MCF and various numbers of MCF ports
Summary
I N ORDER to support the ever-increasing demand for transmission capacity in optical networks while overcoming the fundamental capacity limits of conventional single-mode fibers (SMFs), research over the past 10 years has focused on exploring space as the only remaining physical dimension for signal multiplexing [1]. MCFs are carefully designed to suppress the crosstalk between cores below the level allowed by the transmission system They are advantageous due to their compatibility with the conventional SMF-based technology in terms of not requiring complicated multi-input multi-output digital signal processing for the spatial demultiplexing [3]. There are a wide variety of add/drop part architectures and technologies to achieve more flexible connectivity in a CSS-based SXC at the expense of increased node complexity. A compact, free-space-optics based 5-core 1 × 6 CSS prototype with integrated input and output MCF collimators and an SMUX/SDEMUX array was reported in [21]. JINNO et al.: PRINCIPLE, DESIGN, AND PROTOTYPING OF CSS USING FREE-SPACE OPTICS FOR SPATIAL CHANNEL NETWORK.
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