MODE-SELECTIVE LAUNCHING AND/OR DETECTING IN AN OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE

摘要

An optical communications system and method, the system comprising: a multimodal optical waveguide (3) through which light waves are propagated, which comprises a core (3a) and a cladding (3b) surrounding the core; at least one launching apparatus (5) for selectively launching waves of a plurality of different modes m or modal groups in the waveguide (3); and at least one detecting apparatus (7) for detecting waves of a plurality of different modes m or modal groups in the waveguide (3); whereby the launching apparatus (5) is operative as a multiplexer for selectively launching waves of a plurality of different modes m or modal groups in the waveguide (3) and the detecting apparatus (7) is operative as a de-multiplexer for de-multiplexing light from a plurality of separate modes m or modal groups in the waveguide (3), and the optical system, through operation of the launching apparatus (5) and the detecting apparatus (7), provides for multiplexed communication over the waveguide (3).