Dispersion Impact on the Crosstalk Amplitude Response of Homogeneous Multi-Core Fibers

A novel analytical model of the small-signal inter-core crosstalk transfer function (XTTF) in a homogeneous multi-core fiber (MCF) taking into account the group velocity dispersion (GVD) of different cores and the walkoff between cores is presented. Empirical expressions for the dependence of the mean and variance of the XTTF amplitude on the GVD and walkoff between cores are estimated from simulation results and shown to provide good estimates for dispersion parameters typical of homogeneous MCFs. Results show that GVD may cause large fluctuations and pronounced dips in the mean and variance of the XTTF amplitude. The critical walkoff, below which the GVD impact on the XTTF amplitude is observable, is derived and shown to be in qualitative agreement with experimental results.