Ion-exchanged glass binary phase plates for mode-division multiplexing

• DOI: 10.1364/ao.52.002332
• Publication Date: 2013-04-04T22:30:08Z
• Authors: Carlos Montero-Or...; Vicente Moreno; Xesús Prieto-Blanco; Eduardo F. Mateo; Ezra Ip; José Crespo; Jesús Liñares
• Keywords: 0103 physical sciences; 01 natural sciences

Significant efforts are being made to increase optical network capacity in response ever-growing data traffic. One promising candidate is mode-division multiplexing (MDM) few-mode fibers. A fundamental element for MDM a modal transformer. Modal transformation can be implemented free-space basis by using multiregion phase plates. In this work, we show that efficient monolithic binary plates fabricated ion exchange glass and used tasks. We present an characterization method of such plates, which based on combination the inverse Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin (IWKB) Mach-Zehnder interferometric techniques. The IWKB allows us design characterize easy fast way, whereas interferometry gives precise measurement step. Far-field intensities measured, high-quality mode confirmed.