Open AccessOn the scalability of ring fiber designs for OAM multiplexing
Author(s) -
Siddharth Ramachandran,
Patrick Gregg,
Poul Kristensen,
Steven E. Golowich
Publication year - 2015
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.23.003721
Subject(s) - angular momentum , multiplexing , optics , scalability , computer science , optical fiber , polarization (electrochemistry) , physics , telecommunications , topology (electrical circuits) , engineering , electrical engineering , chemistry , quantum mechanics , database
The promise of the infinite-dimensionality of orbital angular momentum (OAM) and its application to free-space and fiber communications has attracted immense attention in recent years. In order to facilitate OAM-guidance, novel fibers have been proposed and developed, including a class of so-called ring-fibers. In these fibers, the wave-guiding region is a high-index annulus instead of a conventional circular core, which for reasons related to polarization-dependent differential phase shifts for light at waveguide boundaries, leads to enhanced stability for OAM modes. We review the theory and implementation of this nascent class of waveguides, and discuss the opportunities and limitations they present for OAM scalability.