Open AccessDesign, fabrication and validation of an OAM fiber supporting 36 states
Author(s) -
Charles Brunet,
Pravin Vaity,
Younès Messaddeq,
Sophie LaRochelle,
Leslie A. Rusch
Publication year - 2014
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.22.026117
Subject(s) - optics , multiplexing , angular momentum , interferometry , polarization maintaining optical fiber , optical fiber , mode volume , graded index fiber , fiber , physics , computer science , fiber optic sensor , materials science , telecommunications , quantum mechanics , composite material
We present an optical fiber supporting 36 information bearing orbital angular momentum (OAM) states spanning 9 OAM orders. We introduce design techniques to maximize the number of OAM modes supported in the fiber; while avoiding LP mode excitation. We fabricate such a fiber with an air core and an annular index profile using the MCVD process. We introduce a new technique for shaping OAM beams in free-space to obtain better coupling efficiency with fiber with annular index profiles. We excite 9 orders of OAM in the fiber, using interferometry to verify the OAM state on exiting the fiber. Using polarization multiplexing and both signs for the topological charge, we confirm support of 36 states, exploiting to our knowledge the highest number of OAM modes ever transmitted in optical fiber.