High Capacity Transmission With Few-Mode Fibers

We experimentally investigate high-capacity few-mode fiber transmission for short and medium-haul optical links. In separate experiments, we demonstrate C + L band transmission of 283 Tbit/s over a single 30 km span and recirculating loop transmission of 159 Tbit/s over 1045 km graded-index three mode fiber. The first experiment reached a data-rate per fiber mode within 90% of the record data-rates reported in the same transmission bands for single-mode fibers. The second experiment demonstrated the feasibility of reaching high data-rates over long distance few-mode fiber transmission, despite strong impairments due to mode-dependent loss and differential mode delay.