Polymer optical waveguide devices for mode-division-multiplexing applications

摘要

Mode-division multiplexing (MDM), which allows different guided modes of a few-mode fiber to carry different signals, is a new technology being actively pursued worldwide to increase the signal-carrying capacity of a fiber. For the development of the MDM technology, many mode-controlling devices are needed, such as mode converters, mode (de)multiplexers, mode filters, and mode-selective switches. Among the various technologies available for the implementation of such devices, the polymer waveguide technology offers many distinct advantages. This paper presents a review of polymer waveguide devices for MDM applications, which include grating-based mode converters, 3D mode (de)multiplexers, graphene-based mode filters, and thermo-optic mode-selective switches.