Mode division multiplexing (MDM) is mooted as a technology to address future bandwidth issues, and has been successfully demonstrated in free space using spatial modes with orbital angular momentum (OAM). To further increase the data transmission rate, more degrees of freedom are required to form a densely packed mode space. Here we move beyond OAM and demonstrate multiplexing and demultiplexing using both the radial and azimuthal degrees of freedom. We achieve this with a holographic approach that allows over 100 modes to be encoded on a single hologram, across a wide wavelength range, in a wavelength independent manner. Our results offer a new tool that will prove useful in realizing higher bit rates for next generation optical networks.
Reference:
Trichili, A., Rosales-Guzmán, C., Dudley, A.L. et al. 2016. Optical communication beyond orbital angular momentum. Scientific Reports, vol. 6: Article number: 27674. DOI: 10.1038/srep27674
Trichili, A., Rosales-Guzmán, C., Dudley, A. L., Ndagano, B., Salem, A., Zghal, M., & Forbes, A. (2016). Optical communication beyond orbital angular momentum. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/9070
Trichili, A, C Rosales-Guzmán, Angela L Dudley, B Ndagano, AB Salem, M Zghal, and A Forbes "Optical communication beyond orbital angular momentum." (2016) http://hdl.handle.net/10204/9070
Trichili A, Rosales-Guzmán C, Dudley AL, Ndagano B, Salem A, Zghal M, et al. Optical communication beyond orbital angular momentum. 2016; http://hdl.handle.net/10204/9070.
