Novel multicore erbium-doped fibers for spatially integrated optical amplifiers

在当今的信息时代，无处不在的无线链路为移动用户提供了无缝的通信通道。在这个接口背后，数据在高速、大容量的光纤通信链路上聚合和传输，这些光纤通信链路是当今网络的主干，在眨眼之间在世界各地传输信息。近年来，基于云的服务的使用越来越多，导致对额外带宽的需求呈指数级增长，给当前的网络技术带来了巨大压力。为了解决带宽短缺的问题，已经提出了一种破坏性的方法，该方法使用并行空间信道在单个光纤束中倍增信息。这种新方法需要研究一整套设备和子系统，以产生、传输和检测空间多路复用信号。本提案涉及用于周期性补偿沿链路的信号损耗的空间集成光放大中使用的掺铒多芯光纤的优化。为了有实际意义，这些放大器必须使用包层泵浦，这在性能和泵浦效率方面提出了几个挑战。该项目旨在通过改变多核包层泵浦放大器的折射率和掺杂浓度分布来研究其设计中所涉及的权衡问题。它包括：1)建立准确和有效的模型，2)制造两根单芯光纤和两根多芯光纤，3)表征掺铒光纤的组成、增益和噪声系数，4)将光纤集成到放大器原型中，并在传输试验台上进行系统表征。这项研究将与阿尔卡特-朗讯加拿大公司(诺基亚的一部分)合作完成，该公司位于渥太华，生产光纤通信设备。这种空间集成放大器将首先用于取代8个单芯光纤放大器，然后用作多芯传输光纤的串联放大器。该技术将为Alacatel-Lucent Canada的下一代产品提供技术和商业优势，从而加强该公司在这个竞争激烈的市场中的地位。

In today's information age, ubiquitous wireless links provide seamless communication access to mobile users. Behind this interface, the data is aggregated and transmitted on high-speed high-capacity optical fiber communications links that are the backbone of today's network carrying information around the world in the blink of an eye. Recent years have seen an increased use of cloud-based services that creates an exponentially rising demand for additional bandwidth, putting great pressure on current network technologies. To solve this bandwidth shortage, a disruptive approach that uses parallel spatial channels to multiply the information in a single fiber strand has been proposed. This new approach requires research in a full suite of devices and subsystems to generate, transmit and detect spatially multiplexed signals. The present proposal is concerned with the optimization of erbium-doped multicore optical fibres for use in spatially integrated optical amplifiersthat periodically compensate signal loss along the link. To be of practical interest, these amplifiers must use cladding pumping, which presents several challenges in terms of performance and pumping efficiency. This project proposes to study the trade-offs involved in the design of multicore cladding pumped amplifiers through engineering of its refractive index and dopant profiles. It involves 1) the development of an accurate and validated model, 2) fabrication of two single core fibers and two multicore fibers, 3) characterization of the composition, gain and noise figure of the erbium doped fibers, 4) integration of the fibers in an amplifier prototype and system characterization on a transmission testbed. This research will be done in collaboration with Alcatel-Lucent Canada (part of Nokia) a company located in Ottawa that manufactures fiber opticscommunication equipment. The spatially integrated amplifier will find application firstly in replacement of eight single core optical amplifiers and secondly as in-line amplifiers for multicore transmission fibers. The technology will give Alacatel-Lucent Canada a technical and commercial edge for its next generation product thereby strengthening the company's position in this competitive market.