Open AccessFew mode Er^3+-doped fiber with micro-structured core for mode division multiplexing in the C-band
Author(s) -
Guillaume Le Cocq,
Yves Quiquempois,
Antoine Le Rouge,
Géraud Bouwmans,
Hicham El Hamzaoui,
Karen Delplace,
Mohamed Bouazaoui,
Laurent Bigot
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.21.031646
Subject(s) - materials science , optics , multiplexing , wavelength division multiplexing , fiber , fabrication , core (optical fiber) , photonic crystal fiber , doping , dispersion shifted fiber , optoelectronics , optical fiber , wavelength , telecommunications , computer science , fiber optic sensor , physics , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology , composite material
Design and experimental characterization of Er(3+)-doped fiber amplifiers supporting 6 spatial modes in wavelength division multiplexing regime are reported. The study is first focused on Er(3+)-doped circular ring-structured profiles accessible with conventional fiber manufacturing techniques. However, these fiber designs, optimized for gain equalization, prove to be difficult to obtain experimentally. So as to go beyond these limits, an alternative approach based on a "pixelated" Er(3+)-doped core is proposed. Several possible designs are theoretically investigated and a first fabrication of micro-structured fiber is presented.