Dawei Ge

Novel MDM-PON scheme utilizing self-homodyne detection for high-speed/capacity access networks

In this paper, we propose a cost-effective, energy-saving mode-division-multiplexing passive optical network (MDM-PON) scheme utilizing self-homodyne detection for high-speed/capacity access network based on low modal-crosstalk few-mode fiber (FMF) and all-fiber mode multiplexer/demultiplexer (MUX/DEMUX). In the proposed scheme, one of the spatial modes is used to transmit a portion of signal carrier (namely pilot-tone) as the local oscillator (LO), while the others are used for signal-bearing channels. At the receiver, the pilot-tone and the signal can be separated without strong crosstalk and sent to the receiver for coherent detection. The spectral efficiency (SE) is significantly enhanced when multiple spatial channels are used. Meanwhile, the self-homodyne detection scheme can effectively suppress laser phase noise, which relaxes the requirement for the lasers line-width at the optical line terminal or optical network units (OLT/ONUs). The digital signal processing (DSP) at the receiver is also simplified since it removes the need for frequency offset compensation and complex phase correction, which reduces the computational complexity and energy consumption. Polarization division multiplexing (PDM) that offers doubled SE is also supported by the scheme. The proposed scheme is scalable to multi-wavelength application when wavelength MUX/DEMUX is utilized. Utilizing the proposed scheme, we demonstrate a proof of concept 4 × 40-Gb/s orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) transmission over 55-km FMF using low modal-crosstalk two-mode FMF and MUX/DEMUX with error free operation. Compared with back to back case, less than 1-dB Q-factor penalty is observed after 55-km FMF of the four channels. Signal power and pilot-tone power are also optimized to achieve the optimal transmission performance.

Experimental demonstration of EON node supporting reconfigurable optical superchannel multicasting

Elastic optical networks (EON) based on optical superchannel enables higher spectral flexibility, in which the network nodes should provide multiple all-optical functionalities to manipulate bandwidth-variable data traffic. In this paper, we propose and demonstrate an EON node structure supporting reconfigurable optical superchannel multicasting. The node structure incorporates a shared multicasting module, which performs reconfigurable selection of target incoming/outgoing superchannels/replicas and leverages a group of nonlinear devices to satisfy multiple multicast requests. Moreover, an optical comb is utilized to efficiently provide and manage all pump resources for multicasting with potential cost reduction and phase noise inhibition. Based on the node structure, we experimentally demonstrate polarization division multiplexing (PDM) superchannel multicasting scenarios with different replica amount, input/output locations, and modulation formats. Less than 0.7 dB optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) penalties are demonstrated in multiple multicasting scenarios.

Demonstration of all-optical MDM/WDM switching for short-reach networks

Mode division multiplexing (MDM) has been widely investigated in optical transmission systems and networks to improve network capacity. However, the MDM receiver is always expensive and complex because coherent detection and multiplex-input-and-multiplex-output (MIMO) digital signal processing (DSP) are required to demultiplex each spatial mode. In this paper, we investigate the application of MDM in short-reach scenarios such as datacenter networking. Two-dimensional MDM and wavelength division multiplexing node structure based on low modal-crosstalk few-mode fiber (FMF) and components is proposed, in which signal in each mode or wavelength can be independently switched. We experimentally demonstrate independent adding, dropping and switching functionalities with two linearly polarized modes and four wavelength channels over a total 11.8-km 2-mode low modal-crosstalk FMFs. The structure is simple without coherent detection or MIMO DSP. Only slight penalties of receiver sensitivity are observed for all switching operations. The influence of modal-crosstalk accumulation for cascaded switching nodes is also investigated.

Software-Defined Elastic Optical Network Node Supporting Spectrum Defragmentation

The elastic optical network (EON) benefits from improved spectrum utilization, but also faces new challenges in resource allocation. The spectrum continuity and contiguity constraints in routing and spectrum allocation can cause spectrum fragmentation, which would increase traffic blocking. In this paper, we present an EON node structure supporting spectrum defragmentation and a novel software-defined networking (SDN)-based control scheme to resolve the fragmentation problem. In the proposed node, bulk traffic can be spectrally separated and fit into multiple fragments. This way, fragmentationinduced traffic blocking can be mitigated intelligently. Moreover, the SDN control scheme features effective physical-layer abstraction, which is compatible with different defragmentation implementations. We experimentally demonstrate the software-defined EON node on a laboratorial test-bed. Four-wave-mixing-based spectrum multicasting is applied to implement defragmentation, and the corresponding operation procedure of the node Agent is presented. The captured controlling messages and measured signal performance confirm the effectiveness of the solution.

Experimental demonstration of ROADM functionalities for hybrid MDM-WDM optical networks

We propose a ROADM structure based on low-modal-crosstalk FMF and mode MUX/DEMUX, in which both mode and wavelength can be added/dropped independently without MIMO DSP. We experimentally demonstrate its feasibility over 11.8-km 2-mode FMF.

A novel WDM-MDM PON scheme utilizing self-homodyne detection for high-speed/capacity access networks

We propose a cost-effective, energy savings WDM-MDM PON scheme utilizing self-homodyne detection for high-speed/capacity access network with low mode-crosstalk FMF and MUX/DEMUX. A proof of concept 4×40 Gb/s OFDM signal over 55 km FMF with error free operation was experimentally demonstrated.

Cost effective wavelength reused MDM system for bidirectional mobile fronthaul.

In this paper, we propose a cost-effective wavelength-reused mode-division-multiplexing (MDM) system for high speed symmetrical bidirectional mobile fronthaul application. At the base band unit (BBU) pool, one of the spatial modes is used to transmit signal carrier while the others are used for downstream (DS) signal channels. At the remote radio unit (RRU) side, the signal carrier is split and reused as modulation carrier for all the upstream (US) signal channels after mode demultiplexing. Thanks to the low mode crosstalk characteristic of the mode multiplexer/demultiplexer (MUX/DEMUX) and few-mode fiber (FMF), the signal carrier and each signal channel can be effectively separated. The spectral efficiency (SE) is significantly enhanced when multiple spatial channels are used. Compared with other wavelength reused scheme in which the downstream and upstream be modulated in orthogonal dimension, the modulation format of both directions are independent in the proposed wavelength reused MDM system. Therefore, it can easily achieve symmetrical bidirectional transmission without residual re-modulation crosstalk. The proposed scheme is scalable to multi-wavelength application when wavelength MUX/DEMUX is utilized. With the proposed scheme, we demonstrate a proof of concept intensity modulated 4 × 25-Gb/s 16-QAM orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) transmission over 10-km FMF using low modal-crosstalk two-mode FMF and MUX/DEMUX with error free operation. The downstream receiver sensitivity is -21 dBm while the upstream receiver sensitivity is -18 dBm for bidirectional transmission. Due to the Rayleigh backscattering and other spurious reflections, the upstream suffers 2 dB power penalty compared with unidirectional transmission without downstream. To mitigate bidirectional transmission impairments, we propose a simple and effective method to suppress Rayleigh backscattering by shifting the downstream subcarrier frequency. A receiver sensitivity improvement of up to 2.5 dB is achieved for upstream with different downstream power.

MDM-TDM PON Utilizing Self-Coherent Detection-Based OLT and RSOA-Based ONU for High Power Budget

A cost-effective mode-division-multiplexing and time-division-multiplexing passive optical network (MDM-TDM PON) utilizing a self-coherent detection for upstream signal at optical line terminal (OLT) and a high-gain reflective semiconductor optical amplifier (RSOA) as an optical amplifier for a downstream signal at optical network units (ONUs) to enhance bidirectional power budget is proposed. Meanwhile, to further reduce the cost of ONU, RSOA is also used as upstream on-off keying (OOK) signal modulator by time compression multiplexing. A novel dual-modulus algorithm is proposed for OOK signal detection at the OLT. We experimentally verify the proposed MDM-TDM PON architecture with an upstream 1-Gb/s OOK signal and a downstream 10-Gb/s orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signal. Due to the high gain of RSOA and high receiver sensitivity of self-coherent detection, a 30-dB bidirectional power budget is achieved after 10-km few-mode fiber and a 20-km standard single-mode fiber at the bit error rate (BER) of 10-3. Optimal seed power and signal power that input to the RSOA are investigated in this paper.

Spectrum-concentrated 27-fold multicasting of optical PDM superchannel by 6-pump four-wave mixing

We propose a novel spectrum-concentrated PDM superchannel multicasting scheme based on four-wave mixing and demonstrate 50GHz-equally-spaced, 27-fold multicasting of 120-Gb/s superchannel using only 6 pumps. All replicas exhibit better performance than 7% FEC limit.

Demonstration of Software-reconfigurable Elastic Spectrum Manipulation Node Enabled by Optical Comb

We experimentally demonstrate optical comb-enabled elastic spectrum manipulation node for EON. Simultaneous comb-based Add-Drop of over 260 OFDM subbands, multi-band defragmentation and power equalization are verified. OpenFlow extensions are also discussed.