Search Results (59)

This work presents a cost-effective optical frequency comb generator (CEOFCG) solution for generating multiple, equally spaced carriers in wavelength-division-multiplexing coherent optical fiber communication systems (WDM-COFCS). It enables the replacement of multiple laser sources with a single continuous-wave laser, eliminating the need for additional amplification and filtering setups. The CEOFCG provides stable multicarrier spacing, broad phase coherence, and compatibility with advanced modulation formats, enhancing the performance of WDM-COFCS. Digital signal processing (DSP) techniques, including digital filtering, detection, and impairment compensation, contribute to high transmission and spectral efficiency (SE). The results demonstrate the potential of CEOFCG in achieving cost reduction, complexity reduction, high SE, and optimal utilization of optical fiber bandwidth, particularly in higher-order QAM-based COFCS. Full article

This paper proposes an accuracy enhancement method for fiber-longitudinal power profile estimation (PPE) based on convolutional neural networks (CNN). Two types of CNNs are designed. The first network treats different polarization streams identically and is denoted as CNN. The second network considers the difference between the contributions of different polarization streams to the nonlinear phase shift and is denoted as enhanced CNN (ECNN). The numerical simulation results confirm the effectiveness of the method for a 64 Gbaud/s quadrature phase-shift keying (QPSK) polarization-division-multiplexed (PDM) coherent optical communication system with a fiber length of 320 km. The effects of finite impulse response (FIR) filter length, power into the fiber, and polarization mode dispersion on the PPE accuracy are examined. Finally, the results of the proposed method are monitored in the presence of several simultaneous power attenuation anomalies in the fiber optic link. It is found that the accuracy of the PPE substantially improves after using the proposed method, achieving a relative gain of up to 71%. When the modulation format is changed from QPSK to 16-ary quadrature amplitude modulation (16-QAM), and the fiber length is increased from 360 km to 480 km, the proposed method is still effective. This work provides a feasible solution for implementing fiber-longitudinal PPE, enabling significantly improved estimation accuracy in practical applications. Full article

Narrow-linewidth lasers play a crucial role in nonlinear optics, atomic physics, optical metrology, and high-speed coherent optical communications. Precise linewidth measurement is essential for assessing laser noise characteristics; however, conventional methods are often bulky, costly, and unsuitable for integrated applications. This paper presents a compact and cost-effective delay self-homodyne system for laser linewidth measurement, leveraging a field-programmable gate array (FPGA)-based data acquisition circuit. By employing fast Fourier transform (FFT) analysis, the system achieves high-precision linewidth measurement in the kHz range. Additionally, by optimizing the fiber length, the system effectively suppresses low-frequency and 1/f noise, providing an integrated and efficient solution for advanced laser characterization with enhanced performance and reduced cost. Full article

Modulation format identification (MFI) is one of the most critical functions embedded in digital coherent receivers in elastic optical networks (EONs). In view of inherent amplitude and phase characteristics of received signals, different modulation formats exhibit a set of notable features in the polar coordinate system, based on which an MFI scheme incorporating the Gaussian weighted k-nearest neighbors (KNN) algorithm was proposed to identify polarization division multiplexed (PDM)-QPSK/-16QAM/-32QAM/-64QAM/-128QAM signals. The performance of the proposed scheme was numerically verified in 28GBaud coherent optical communication systems. The numerical simulation results show that, to achieve 100% correct identification rates for all of the five modulation formats, the required minimum optical signal-to-noise ratios (OSNRs) were less than their relevant thresholds corresponding to the 20% forward error correction (FEC). The tolerable ranges of the residual chromatic dispersion (CD) for QPSK, 16QAM, 32QAM, 64QAM, and 128QAM were −1920 ps/nm~1920 ps/nm, −720 ps/nm~360 ps/nm, −1200 ps/nm~1680 ps/nm, −600 ps/nm~360 ps/nm, and −600 ps/nm~480 ps/nm, respectively. Meanwhile, the results demonstrate the maximum tolerable differential-group delay (DGD) for the QPSK, 16QAM, 32QAM, 64QAM, and 128QAM signals were 34 ps, 16 ps, 20 ps, 6 ps, and 1.2 ps, respectively. In addition, the simulated results also show that the proposed MFI scheme is robust against the fiber nonlinearities, even if the launch power is increased to 4 dBm. Full article

We proposed a novel technique for detecting optical filter shift in ROADMs in optical transmission lines by applying machine learning on DP-16QAM constellation data captured just after Analogue-to-Digital Converters (ADCs) in a digital coherent receiver. For this purpose, we implemented Docker container applications in WhiteBox Cassini to acquire the real-time raw digital data. By using the captured data, we generated CNN models for the detections in off-line processing and used them for real-time detections. As preliminary results, we confirmed the successful detection of optical filter shift in real-time with an accuracy of 51 GHz. To enhance the detection accuracy, we challenged ourselves to reproduce digital coherent constellation data by using a Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) for real-time optical filter shift detection for the first time. By utilizing a GAN, we successfully generated clone data based on actual constellation data. By adding the cloned data onto the actually captured data, we successfully enhanced detection sensitivity to as high as 26 GHz. As a result, we reduced the amount of required data for the high detection accuracy by 68% with the help of GAN-supported data augmentation. Furthermore, we confirmed our augmentation method enables the prediction of faults before they occur by enabling high enough detection sensitivity to detect an optical filter shift before degradation of Bit Error Rates (BERs) appears. This demonstrates the potential of GAN-based data augmentation in optimizing the efficiency and precision of optical network impairment sensing by using captured digital coherent optical signal. Full article

A low-cost, wavelength-tunable single-longitudinal-mode (SLM) thulium–holmium co-doped fiber laser (THDFL) in a 2 μm band with a simple structure is described in the present paper. To obtain a stable SLM and narrow laser linewidth, a five-coupler-based three-ring (FCTR) filter is utilized in the ring cavity of the fiber laser. Tunable SLM wavelength output from THDFLs with kHz linewidths can be achieved by designing the FCTR filter with an effective free-spectral range and a 3 dB bandwidth at the main resonant peak. The measurement results show that the laser is in the SLM lasing state, with a highly stabilized optical spectrum, a linewidth of approximately 9.45 kHz, an optical signal-to-noise ratio as high as 73.6 dB, and a relative intensity noise of less than −142.66 dB/Hz. Furthermore, the wavelength can be tuned in the range of 2.6 nm. The proposed fiber laser has a wide range of applications, including coherence optical communication, optical fiber sensing, and dense wavelength-division-multiplexing. Full article

An ultra-thin spiral diffractive lens (SDL) was fabricated by using focused ion beam milling on a fiber end-facet coated with a 100 nm thick Au film. Focusing vortex beams (FVBs) were successfully excited by the SDLs due to the coherent superposition of diffracted waves and their azimuth dependence of the phase accumulated from the spiral aperture to the beam axis. The polarization and phase characteristics of the FVBs were experimentally investigated. Results show that the input beams with various polarization states were converted to FVBs, whose polarization states were the same as those of the input beams. Furthermore, the focal length of the SDL and the in-tensity and phase distribution at the focus spot of the FVBs were numerically simulated by the FDTD method in the ultra-wide near-infrared waveband from 1300 nm to 1800 nm. The focal length was tuned from 21.8 μm to 14.7 μm, the intensity profiles exhibited a doughnut-like shape, and the vortex phase was converted throughout the broadband range. The devices are expected to be candidates for widespread applications including optical communications, optical imaging, and optical tweezers. Full article

In this paper, we skillfully utilize the discriminative ability of the discriminator to construct a conditional generative adversarial network, and propose a scheme that uses few symbols to achieve high accuracy recognition of modulation formats under low signal-to-noise ratio conditions in coherent optical communication. In the one thousand kilometres G.654E optical fiber transmission system, transmission experiments are conducted on the PDM-QPSK/-8PSK/-16QAM/-32QAM/-64QAM modulation format at 8G/16G/32G baud rates, and the signal-to-noise ratio parameters are traversed under experimental conditions. As a key technology in the next-generation elastic optical networks, the modulation format recognition scheme proposed in this paper achieves 100% recognition of the above five modulation formats without distinguishing signal transmission rates. The optical signal-to-noise ratio thresholds required to achieve 100% recognition accuracy are 12.4 dB, 14.3 dB, 15.4 dB, 16.2 dB, and 17.3 dB, respectively. Full article

Light intensity flicker is the most basic and important effect of turbulence. Fiber coupling efficiency is the primary parameter that ensures the system’s communication quality. The light intensity flicker effect caused by atmospheric turbulence significantly affects the coupling efficiency of space light in a single-mode optical fiber. Based on the principle of fiber coupling efficiency, this paper first establishes the relationship between light intensity flicker and spatial coherence radius, then analyzes the influence of light intensity flicker on fiber coupling efficiency through the spatial coherence radius. A laser communication system was built, and real-time measurement experiments on atmospheric light intensity flicker and optical fiber coupling efficiency at different transmission distances and altitudes above the ground were completed. The experimental results show that the constructed experimental system can simultaneously measure the scintillation index and fiber coupling efficiency. When the communication distance is 12,000 m and the height is 600 m above the ground, the scintillation index is measured to be 0.63, and the coupling efficiency is 0.05. The results of the study provide an experimental and theoretical basis and data support to promote the development of atmospheric laser communications. Full article

Free space optical technology promises to revolutionize point-to-point communications systems. By taking advantage of their vastly higher frequencies, coherent optical systems outperform their radio counterparts by orders of magnitude in achievable data throughput, while simultaneously lowering the required size, weight, and power (SWaP), making them ideal for mobile applications. However, the widespread implementation of this technology has been largely hindered by the effects of atmospheric turbulence, often necessitating complex higher-order adaptive optics systems that are largely unsuitable for deployment on mobile platforms. By employing tip/tilt beam-stabilization, we present the results of a bespoke low-SWaP optical terminal that demonstrated single-mode fiber (SMF) coupling. This was achieved by autonomously acquiring and tracking the targets using a combination of aircraft transponder and machine vision feedback to a root-mean-square (RMS) tracking error of 29.4 µrad and at angular rates of up to 0.83 deg/s. To the authors’ knowledge, these works constitute the first published SMF coupled optical link to a full-sized helicopter, and we describe derived quantities relevant to the future refinement of such links. The ability to achieve SMF coupling without the constraints of complex adaptive optics systems positions this technology as a versatile quantum-capable communications solution for land-, air-, and sea-based platforms ranging across commercial, scientific, and military operators. Full article

Narrow-linewidth lasers mainly depend on the development of advanced laser linewidth measurement methods for related technological progress as key devices in satellite laser communications, precision measurements, ultra-high-speed optical communications, and other fields. This manuscript provides a theoretical analysis of linewidth characterization methods based on the beat frequency power spectrum and laser phase noise calculations, and elaborates on existing research of measurement technologies. In addition, to address the technical challenges of complex measurement systems that commonly rely on long optical fibers and significant phase noise jitter in the existing research, a short-delay self-heterodyne method based on coherent envelope spectrum demodulation was discussed in depth to reduce the phase jitter caused by 1/f noise. We assessed the performance parameters and testing conditions of different lasers, as well as the corresponding linewidth characterization methods, and analyzed the measurement accuracy and error sources of various methods. Full article

With the development of the Internet and information technology, optical fiber communication systems need to meet people’s information demand for large capacity and high speed. High-order phase modulation and channel multiplexing can improve the capacity and data rate of optical fiber communication systems, but they also bring the problem of bit error. To improve the transmission quality and reliability of optical fiber communication systems, forward error correction (FEC) coding techniques are commonly used, which serve as the fundamental approach to enhance the quality and reliability of fiber optic communication systems, ensuring that the received data remain accurate and reliable. The FEC in optical fiber communication systems is divided into three generations. The first generation FEC is mainly hard decision codewords, represented as RS code. The second generation FEC is mainly cascaded code, which stands for interleaved cascaded code. The third generation of FEC mainly refers to soft decision codes, which are represented as low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes. As a kind of FEC, LDPC codes stand out as pivotal contributors in the field of optical communication and have gained remarkable attention due to exceptional error correction performance and low decoding complexity. Based on IEEE802.16e standard, LDPC code with specific code length and rate is compiled and simulated in MATLAB and VPItransmissionMaker 10.1 and successfully incorporated into polarization multiplexed differential quadrature phase shift keying (PM-DQPSK) coherent optical transmission system. The simulation results indicate that the bit error rate (BER) can be reduced to 10⁻³ when the optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) reaches 14.2 dB, and the BER experiences a reduction by nearly three orders of magnitude when the OSNR is 17.2 dB. These findings underscore the efficacy of LDPC codes in significantly improving the performance of optical communication systems, particularly in scenarios demanding robust error correction capabilities. This study provides valuable, significant results regarding the potential of LDPC codes for enhancing the reliability of optical transmission in real-world applications. Full article

Currently, there are three types of optical communication networks based on the communication channel between the transmitter and receiver: the optical fiber channel, visible light channel, and optical wireless channel networks. The last type has several advantages for underwater communication, wireless sensors, and military communication networks. However, this type of optical network suffers from weather conditions in free-space communications and attenuation owing to the scattering and absorption mechanisms for underwater communication. In this study, we present a new transceiver architecture of a coherent optical code-division multiple-access (OCDMA) system based on a hybrid M-ary differential pulse position modulation scheme and a spreading code sequence called weighted modified prime code for underwater communication to minimize channel dispersion, increase the transmission rate per second, enhance the network bit error rate (BER) performance, and improve network security. Using an OCDMA system, we can simultaneously expand the network coverage area and increase the number of users sharing the network over the same channel bandwidth. The simulation results in this study proved that the proposed system can accommodate 1310 active users and a network throughput of 180 Gbps*user over a transmission distance of 930 m without any repeater at a 10⁻⁹ BER performance, compared to the 45 Gbps*user network throughput and 100 m transmission distance reported in the literature. Full article

In this study, we developed a wide and deep network-based nonlinear equalizer to compensate for nonlinear impairment in coherent optical communication systems. In our proposed equalizer, the power feature factor and inter-symbol feature sequence in the received signal are analyzed by two combined networks, wide and deep, respectively, so that the information contained in the signal can be fully utilized. We designed an experiment using a 120 Gbit/s 64-quadrature amplitude modulation (64-QAM) coherent optical communication system over a 375 km standard single-mode fiber (SSMF) to verify the performance of the proposed wide and deep network-based nonlinear equalizer. The experimental results showed that the proposed wide and deep network-based nonlinear equalizer achieved better performance at lower complexity compared with the traditional neural network-based nonlinear equalizer. The proposed equalizer significantly improved the equalization effect at a cost of a 0.3% increase in parameters, which indicates the potential of the proposed method for application in coherent optical communication systems. Full article

This work aims to reveal the microscopic (2–3 micrometer resolution) appearance of human myelinated nerve fibers in vivo for the first time. We analyzed the myelinated retinal nerve fibers of a male patient without other neurological disorders in a non-invasive way using the transscleral optical phase imaging method with adaptive optics. We also analyzed the fellow eye with non-myelinated nerve fibers and compared the results with traditional ocular imaging methods such as optical coherence tomography. We documented the microscopic appearance of human myelin and myelinated axons in vivo. This method allowed us to obtain better details than through traditional ocular imaging methods. We hope these findings will be useful to the scientific community to evaluate neuro-retinal structures through new imaging techniques and more accurately document nerve anatomy and the pathophysiology of this disease. Full article