All-fiber wavelength- and mode-selective coupler for optical interconnections

Abstract

We experimentally demonstrate a new wavelength- and mode-selective coupler utilizing intermodal coupling between a standard single-mode fiber (SMF) and a hollow optical. fiber (HOF). The fabricated device routes optical signals such that a 1.3-mum signal is directed to the HOF port, adiabatically converting the LP01 mode into a ring-shaped mode, which can be further connected to a gigabit ethernet link, reducing the differential mode-dispersion penalty. Optical signals near 1.5 mum, meanwhile, stay in the LP01 mode of the SMF arm for further connection to conventional wavelength-division multiplexing links based on erbium-doped fiber amplifiers. The performance of the device is characterized in terms of insertion loss, channel isolation, and mode-conversion efficiency. (C) 2002 Optical Society of America.