Photonics devices for optical communications and sensing

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Increased connectivity is transforming our daily lives. Nowadays, virtual communities have a major impact on societal dynamics and sensor networks are helping in decision making processes. This massive flow of information is putting pressure on our communication infrastructure and drives the need for high bandwidth technologies. This Discovery grant (DG) will research photonic technologies to help us harvest and exchange data, meeting the future needs of intelligent communities. My objective is to increase the bandwidth of optical networks through innovations in optical fibers and integrated photonics, multiplying channels and capacity. The proposed research investigates an emerging paradigm for optical fiber transmission, called space division multiplexing (SDM), which consists of carrying multiple data streams in parallel on orthogonal fiber modes. Unfortunately, these modes exchange energy during propagation if the fiber is perturbed, mixing the information channels. The DG will examine how to achieve SDM transmission without inter-channel interference over the longest possible distance. I will design fibers that allow multiplexing over vector modes that are well separated, for example micro-structured polarization-maintaining few-mode fibers that increase the number of modes, while keeping effective index differences large and loss small. The fibers will be fabricated in-house at the Center for Optics, Photonics and Lasers (COPL) that is equipped with a full optical fiber fabrication facility, a unique infrastructure in Canada. All fiber properties, such as modal loss and cross-talk, will be thoroughly characterized. The goal of cross-talk free transmissions can only be achieved with mode multiplexers/demultiplexers of high quality. I will examine two technologies to generate and combine modes, firstly using optical fiber couplers and secondly using silicon photonic (SiPh). In the long term, SiPh offers the possibility to make a full transmitter that combines data carried on several wavelengths, polarizations and modes. I also propose to leverage this know-how in SDM technologies for sensing applications. I will investigate how multi-core fibers can make an optical fiber probe dedicated to shape sensing and displacement monitoring in permafrost. The close proximity between my laboratory, with state-of-the-art test equipment, and the COPL fiber fabrication team and infrastructure provides a great opportunity for high impact research in optical fiber technologies. Canada has a strong photonic industry, encompassing large telecommunication equipment manufacturers, as well as small and medium size photonic businesses that must constantly innovate to maintain their leadership position. In addition to its research outputs, this research program will provide a high quality training environment for young researchers who will be joining this dynamic industrial sector.