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Making spatial multiplexing a reality

Nature Photonics volume 8, pages 345–348 (2014)Cite this article

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To avoid a 'capacity crunch', future optical networks will need to simultaneously transmit multiple spatial channels. For spatial multiplexing to be practical, the upgrade path from legacy wavelength-division multiplexed systems needs to be smooth and to consider integration-induced crosstalk from the outset.

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Figure 1: Five physical dimensions (polarization, frequency, quadrature, time and space) form the basis of all electromagnetic communication techniques.
Figure 2: An SDM network will have to operate across a diverse infrastructure, making use of the installed WDM infrastructure to the fullest possible extent.
Figure 3: Optical superchannels achieve a desired interface rate through the use of parallel data streams.

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  1. Peter J. Winzer is at Bell Laboratories, Alcatel-Lucent, 791 Holmdel-Keyport Road, Holmdel, New Jersey 07733, USA,

    Peter J. Winzer

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  1. Peter J. Winzer
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Correspondence to Peter J. Winzer.

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Winzer, P. Making spatial multiplexing a reality. Nature Photon 8, 345–348 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2014.58

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