Journal of Lightwave Technology

The recently developed digital coherent receiver enables us to employ a variety of spectrally efficient modulation formats such as M-ary phase-shift keying and quadrature-amplitude modulation. Moreover, in the digital domain, we can equalize all linear transmission impairments such as group-velocity dispersion and polarization-mode dispersion of transmission fibers, because coherent detection pres... View full abstract»

This paper aims to address the perception that visible light communication (VLC) systems cannot work under the presence of sunlight. A complete framework is presented to evaluate the performance of VLC systems in the presence of solar irradiance at any given location and time. The effect of solar irradiance is investigated in terms of degradations in signal to noise ratio, data rate, and bit error... View full abstract»

Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) is a modulation technique which is now used in most new and emerging broadband wired and wireless communication systems because it is an effective solution to intersymbol interference caused by a dispersive channel. Very recently a number of researchers have shown that OFDM is also a promising technology for optical communications. This paper gives... View full abstract»

Driven primarily by cloud service and data-center applications, short-reach optical communication has become a key market segment and growing research area in recent years. Short-reach systems are characterized by direct detection-based receiver configurations and other low-cost and small form factor components that induce transmission impairments unforeseen in their coherent counterparts. Innovat... View full abstract»

This paper attempts to clarify the difference between visible light communication (VLC) and light-fidelity (LiFi). In particular, it will show how LiFi takes VLC further by using light emitting diodes (LEDs) to realise fully networked wireless systems. Synergies are harnessed as luminaries become LiFi attocells resulting in enhanced wireless capacity providing the necessary connectivity to realise... View full abstract»

Machine learning techniques relevant for nonlinearity mitigation, carrier recovery, and nanoscale device characterization are reviewed and employed. Markov Chain Monte Carlo in combination with Bayesian filtering is employed within the nonlinear state-space framework and demonstrated for parameter estimation. It is shown that the time-varying effects of cross-phase modulation (XPM) induced polariz... View full abstract»

In this paper, three forms of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) designed for intensity modulated/direct detection (IM/DD) optical systems are compared. These are asymmetrically clipped optical OFDM (ACO-OFDM), DC biased optical OFDM (DCO-OFDM) and asymmetrically clipped DC biased optical OFDM (ADO-OFDM). ADO-OFDM is a new technique that combines aspects of ACO-OFDM and DCO-OFDM by ... View full abstract»

Broadband and low loss capability of photonics has led to an ever-increasing interest in its use for the generation, processing, control and distribution of microwave and millimeter-wave signals for applications such as broadband wireless access networks, sensor networks, radar, satellite communitarians, instrumentation and warfare systems. In this tutorial, techniques developed in the last few ye... View full abstract»

The historical beginnings of photosensitivity and fiber Bragg grating (FBG) technology are recounted. The basic techniques for fiber grating fabrication, their characteristics, and the fundamental properties of fiber gratings are described. The many applications of fiber grating technology are tabulated, and some selected applications are briefly described View full abstract»

We describe a method to estimate the capacity limit of fiber-optic communication systems (or ¿¿fiber channels¿¿) based on information theory. This paper is divided into two parts. Part 1 reviews fundamental concepts of digital communications and information theory. We treat digitization and modulation followed by information theory for channels both without and with memory. We provide explicit rel... View full abstract»

In this paper, we describe the spectral characteristics that can be achieved in fiber reflection (Bragg) and transmission gratings. Both principles for understanding and tools for designing fiber gratings are emphasized. Examples are given to illustrate the wide variety of optical properties that are possible in fiber gratings. The types of gratings considered include uniform, apodized, chirped, d... View full abstract»

Multicore fibers (MCFs) are expected as a good candidate for overcoming the capacity limit of a current optical communication system. This paper describes the recent progress on the MCFs for space-division multiplexing to be utilized in future large capacity long-distance transmission systems. Tradeoff issue between low crosstalk and high core density in MCFs is presented and prospect of large-spa... View full abstract»

Internet of Things (IoT) requires cloud infrastructures for data analysis (e.g., temperature monitoring, energy consumption measurement, etc.). Traditionally, cloud services have been implemented in large datacenters in the core network. Core cloud offers high-computational capacity with moderate response time, meeting the requirements of centralized services with low-delay demands. However, colle... View full abstract»

Microwave phased array antennas (PAAs) are very attractive to defense applications and high-speed wireless communications for their abilities of fast beam scanning and complex beam pattern control. However, traditional PAAs based on phase shifters suffer from the beam-squint problem and have limited bandwidths. True-time-delay (TTD) beamforming based on low-loss photonic delay lines can solve this... View full abstract»

Next generation 5G mobile system will support the vision of connecting all devices that benefit from a connection, and support a wide range of services. Consequently, 5G transport networks need to provide the required capacity, latency, and flexibility in order to integrate the different technology domains of radio, transport, and cloud. This paper outlines the main challenges, which the 5G transp... View full abstract»

For high-speed optical transmission, polarization-division-multiplexing (PDM) is a promising technic to double the link capacity. However, most of on-chip PDM systems include a polarization beam splitter, a polarization rotator, and two modulators, which are costly and complex for integration. In this study, a novel dual-polarization electro-optic intensity modulator is proposed that is based on a... View full abstract»

This paper presents an overview of integrated optics routing and coupling devices based on multimode interference. The underlying self-imaging principle in multimode waveguides is described using a guided mode propagation analysis. Special issues concerning the design and operation of multimode interference devices are discussed, followed by a survey of reported applications. It is shown that mult... View full abstract»

We successfully developed a high-density broadband 16-channel × 25 Gb/s on-package silicon photonics optical transceiver. The flip chip bonded bridge structure realized high density of about 363 Gb/s/cm² . We demonstrated simultaneously on all 16 channels error-free operations with low crosstalk penalties of Tx-to-Tx 1.4 dB, Rx-to-Rx 1.4 dB, and Tx-to-Rx <;0.1 dB. View full abstract»

It is predicted that demand in future optical access networks will reach multi-gigabit/s per user. However, the limited performance of the direct detection receiver technology currently used in the optical network units at the customers' premises restricts data rates. Therefore, the concept of coherent-enabled access networks has attracted attention in recent years, as this technology offers high ... View full abstract»

Based on a variety of long-term network traffic data from different geographies and applications, in addition to long-term scaling trends of key information and communication technologies, we identify fundamental scaling disparities between the technologies used to generate and process data and those used to transport data. These disparities could lead to the data transport network falling behind ... View full abstract»

Visible light communications is an alternative method of indoor wireless communications that requires sensitive receivers. Ideally, single photon avalanche detectors (SPADs) could be used to create more sensitive receivers. However, the dead time, finite output pulse width, and photon detection efficiency of existing SPAD arrays limit their sensitivity and bandwidth. In this paper, an accurate equ... View full abstract»

For a future 5G Ethernet-based fronthaul architecture, 100G trunk lines of a transmission distance up to 10 km over a standard single-mode fiber (SSMF) in combination with cheap gray optics to daisy chain cell site network interfaces are a promising cost- and power-efficient solution. For such a scenario, different intensity modulation and direct detect formats at a data rate of 112 Gb/s, namely N... View full abstract»

We analyze and explore the potential that waveguide-mesh-based architectures used in Programmable Photonic Integrated Circuits can be configured to enable true time optical delay lines, which can find applications in different Microwave Photonics functionalities, such as beamforming and optical filtering. We also propose and experimentally demonstrate an alternative standalone Tunable Basic Unit a... View full abstract»

Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) can be understood as the integration of sensing and intelligence to enable the structure loading and damage-provoking conditions to be recorded, analyzed, localized, and predicted in such a way that nondestructive testing becomes an integral part of them. In addition, SHM systems can include actuation devices to take proper reaction or correction actions. SHM sen... View full abstract»

Dynamic fiber-optic shape sensing, often also referred to as curvature or bend sensing, is demonstrated using fiber segment interferometry, where chains of fiber segments, separated by broadband Bragg grating reflectors, are interrogated using range-resolved interferometry. In this paper, the theory of interferometric curvature sensing using fiber segments is developed in detail, including techniq... View full abstract»

The fifth generation (5G) wireless technology is designed to provide significantly faster Internet access, with lower latency, and ubiquitous mobile coverage compared to its predecessors. However, as there will be hundreds and thousands of wireless cells deployed in the 5G network, transporting the enormous volume of data instigated from high capacity 5G wireless cells to the core network in a cos... View full abstract»

Erbium-doped fiber amplifiers are modeled using the propagation and rate equations of a homogeneous two-level laser medium. Numerical methods are used to analyze the effects of optical modes and erbium confinement on amplifier performance, and to calculate both the gain and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) spectra. Fibers with confined erbium doping are completely characterized from easily mea... View full abstract»

A novel remote antenna unit, intended for application in the downlink of an analog radio frequency over fiber system, is proposed, whose radiated power originates entirely from the optical signal supplied by a single multi-mode fiber. By operating the photodetector of the optical receiver at zero bias voltage, while omitting typical active components, such as transimpedance amplifiers, a fully pas... View full abstract»

This paper presents an energy-efficient visible light communication (VLC) receiver system-on-a-chip (SoC) that employs ambient light rejection (ALR) and post-equalization techniques for emerging light fidelity (Li-Fi) applications using ordinary phosphorescent white light-emitting diodes (LEDs). A current-reuse transimpedance amplifier is proposed for energy-efficient applications. An ALR unit is ... View full abstract»

We report the high-frequency modulation of individual pixels in 8 × 8 arrays of III-nitride-based micro-pixellated light-emitting diodes, where the pixels within the array range from 14 to 84 μ m in diameter. The peak emission wavelengths of the devices are 370, 405, 450 and 520 nm, respectively. Smaller area micro-LED pixels generally exhibit higher modulation bandwidths than their ... View full abstract»

The next-generation passive optical network stage 2 (NG-PON2) effort was initiated by the full service access network (FSAN) in 2011 to investigate on upcoming technologies enabling a bandwidth increase beyond 10 Gb/s in the optical access network. The FSAN meeting in April 2012 selected the time- and wavelength-division multiplexed passive optical network (TWDM-PON) as a primary solution to NG-PO... View full abstract»

Next-generation fiber-optic communications call for ultra-reliable forward error correction codes that are capable of low-power and low-latency decoding. In this paper, we propose a new class of polar codes, whose polarization units are irregularly pruned to reduce computational complexity and decoding latency without sacrificing error correction performance. We then experimentally demonstrate tha... View full abstract»

In this paper, we have demonstrated the first InAs/InGaAs/GaAs quantum dots-in-a-well (DWELL) photodetector monolithically grown on silicon substrate. We studied both the optical and electrical characteristics of the DWELL photodetectors. Time-resolved photoluminescence spectra measured from the DWELL photodetector revealed a long carrier lifetime of 1.52 ns. A low dark current density of 2.03 &#x... View full abstract»

Fiber-induced intra- and interchannel nonlinearities are experimentally tackled using blind nonlinear equalization (NLE) by unsupervised machine-learning-based clustering (MLC) in ~46-Gb/s single-channel and ~20-Gb/s (middle-channel) multichannel coherent multicarrier signals (orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) based). To that end, we introduce, for the first time, hierarchical and ... View full abstract»

A high-sensitivity Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) strain sensor based on a concave-core photonic crystal fiber (CPCF) was proposed and demonstrated. The FPI was formed by directly splicing a CPCF to a standard single-mode fiber. The CPCF was fabricated by cleaving a high-numerical-aperture solid-core photonic crystal fiber under axial tension using a traditional fiber cleaver. An FPI strain sens... View full abstract»

We investigate the performance and design of free-space optical (FSO) communication links over slow fading channels from an information theory perspective. A statistical model for the optical intensity fluctuation at the receiver due to the combined effects of atmospheric turbulence and pointing errors is derived. Unlike earlier work, our model considers the effect of beam width, detector size, an... View full abstract»

After dominating the electronics industry for decades, silicon is on the verge of becoming the material of choice for the photonics industry: the traditional stronghold of III-V semiconductors. Stimulated by a series of recent breakthroughs and propelled by increasing investments by governments and the private sector, silicon photonics is now the most active discipline within the field of integrat... View full abstract»

We achieved the lowest-ever transmission losses of 0.1419 dB/km at 1560 nm wavelength and 0.1424 dB/km at 1550 nm in a Ge-free silica-core optical fiber. It was an improvement by 4 mdB/km from the previous record realized in 2015. The Ge-free silica core included fluorine co-doping, which helps to reduce disorder in the microscopic glass network structure that causes Rayleigh scattering loss witho... View full abstract»

Optical signal processing brings together various fields of optics and signal processing - namely, nonlinear devices and processes, analog and digital signals, and advanced data modulation formats - to achieve high-speed signal processing functions that can potentially operate at the line rate of fiber optic communications. Information can be encoded in amplitude, phase, wavelength, polarization a... View full abstract»

We present a 10-GHz granularity reconfigurable WDM superchannel filter in a photonic integrated circuit. The filter uses a ring-resonator-assisted tapped-delay-line topology. An example configuration with two ring resonators and four tapped delay lines provides a spectral filter with a flat-top passband, a roll-off factor of 8%, a tunable central wavelength, and a selectable free spectral range, i... View full abstract»

Microring resonators side coupled to signal waveguides provide compact, narrow band, and large free spectral range optical channel dropping filters. Higher order filters with improved passband characteristics and larger out-of-band signal rejection are realized through the coupling of multiple rings. The analysis of these devices is approached by the novel method of coupling of modes in time. The ... View full abstract»

We review the recent developments in the area of optical fiber grating sensors, including quasi-distributed strain sensing using Bragg gratings, systems based on chirped gratings, intragrating sensing concepts, long period-based grating sensors, fiber grating laser-based systems, and interferometric sensor systems based on grating reflectors View full abstract»

We propose a wideband linear polarization converter in transmission mode by bilayer metamaterial. The polarization converter operates from 0.55 to 1.37 THz with polarization conversion ratio maintaining nearly 100%. The distribution of surface current and electrical field was numerically simulated to clarify physical mechanism of polarization conversion. Importantly, we introduced the Stokes metho... View full abstract»

Analogs of Electromagnetically Induced Transparency (EIT) in metamaterial have undoubtedly become a research hotspot in recent years. In this paper, we summarized some of the literature on EIT published to date and compared their performance. Then, we designed two kinds of metamaterials using aluminum and silicon. Both have the similar glasses-shaped structure of a periodic lattice with one bar re... View full abstract»

Short range optical data links are experiencing bandwidth limitations making it very challenging to cope with the growing data transmission capacity demands. Parallel optics appears as a valid short-term solution. It is, however, not a viable solution in the long-term because of its complex optical packaging. Therefore, increasing effort is now put into the possibility of exploiting higher order m... View full abstract»

We propose a new indoor positioning system utilizing visible light communication. Intensity modulation/direct detection and carrier allocation methods are utilized in the proposed system. Simultaneous three channel transmissions were applied to calculate the receiver's position. The characteristics of the proposed positioning system were investigated through simulation based on the experimental re... View full abstract»

In this paper, we describe recent progress in space-division multiplexed (SDM) transmission, and our proposal and demonstration of dense space-division multiplexing (DSDM), which offers the possibility of ultra-high capacity SDM transmission systems with high spatial density and spatial channel count of over 30 per fiber. We introduce the SDM transmission matrix, which cross indexes the various ty... View full abstract»

In this paper, we focus on maximizing energy efficiency problems for visible light communication (VLC) systems. Specifically, for single-input-single-output (SISO) VLC systems, we first systematically analyze the power consumption along the signal processing path and propose an explicit energy efficiency expression, which is a quasi-concave function of the power consumption at the power amplifier ... View full abstract»

Dense integration of electro-optic (EO) devices in photonic integrated circuits (PICs) is critical to achieve high-capacity, compact and low-cost transceiver modules, and fulfill the increasing bandwidth and/or bandwidth density demands for future computers, servers, data centers, and transport optical network systems. However, the EO crosstalk due to high integration density may degrade the signa... View full abstract»

We experimentally demonstrate a new approach for the generation of widely spaced flexible optical frequency combs in a highly nonlinear fiber (HNLF) using relatively low-speed components. A cavity-less 10-GHz optical pulse source is passively multiplied to 50 GHz via the fractional temporal Talbot effect. The repetition rate multiplied pulse train then propagates in an HNLF together with a continu... View full abstract»