Abstract
We experimentally evaluate the performance of incoherent multiple-input
multiple-output (MIMO) multimode fiber (MMF) links with different fiber media,
link lengths, and modulation techniques. The performance of conventional 62.5
$\mu$
m diameter silica
as well as perfluorinated plastic, graded-index MMF sections of various lengths
were evaluated using 1
$\,\times
\,$
1, 2
$\,\times
\,$
2, 3
$\,\times
\,$
3 and 4
$\,\times
\,$
4 MIMO setups over a range of lengths, with both open-loop
equalization and feedback-based spatial multiplexing techniques. The data
rate was evaluated over silica fiber sections with lengths ranging between
100 m–3 km using distributed feedback lasers and VCSELs at the transmitters.
In addition, plastic optical fiber sections with lengths ranging from 1 m—100
m were evaluated with Fabry Perot lasers. Axial offsets were introduced while
launching into, and detecting from the MMF to enhance modal diversity, and
the impact of these offsets on the data rates was measured to obtain optimal
launch and detection conditions. With optimized launch conditions and modulation
parameters, the silica based systems realized data rates of 16 to 26 Gb/s,
representing a bandwidth-length product improvement of
$28\times\,$
over MMF standards such as
10 GBASE-SR. The plastic fiber system reached data rates of 24 to 43 Gb/s,
with bandwidth-length product increases of up to
$12\times\,$
of rated parameters. The
use of off-axis launch and detection with flexible offsets on all four MIMO
streams of the 4
$\,\times
\,$
4 system would enable further performance improvement.
© 2013 IEEE
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