7×100 Gb/s Multicore Fiber Link Enabled by an Inverse-Designed Dual-Polarization Coupler

We present the first integration of an array of seven freeform dual-polarization SOI couplers with a seven-core fiber featuring a $125 \mu \mathrm{~m}$ cladding diameter, achieving a $7 \times 100 \mathrm{~Gb} / \mathrm{s}$ error-free multicore link.