Large core multimode fiber with high bandwidth and high connector tolerance for broadband short distance communications

Abstract

We propose a large core multimode fiber with 100-µm core diameter for short distance communication that is compatible with existing transceivers designed for 50-µm diameter core multimode fibers. The fiber exhibits a bandwidth that is over four times higher than the 50-µm OM4 fiber, low bending loss, and large connector offset tolerance. We have studied the bandwidth capability through both detailed modeling and experiments. A prototype fiber was fabricated, and it achieves 24 GHz km peak modal bandwidth in the 850 nm window, and the wavelength window with bandwidth above 5 GHz km is more than 100 nm. The bending losses of the fiber measured at 850 and 1300 nm with an encircled flux launch condition exceed the requirements for bending insensitive multimode fibers. The fiber has much higher connector offset tolerance compared to conventional 50-µm diameter core fibers as has been exhibited by modeling and experimental study. The additional loss caused by up to 10-µm connector offset is only 0.3 dB. Transmission experiments using 25 G SR and 100 G shortwave wavelength division multiplexing transceivers over such a fiber show error-free performance over 500 and 300 m, respectively. The proposed large core multimode fiber can address versatile needs in short distance communication including the bandwidth for high data rate transmission and a wide wavelength window for wavelength multiplexed transmission. The large connector tolerance and low bending loss can also enable low cost, compact connectivity solutions with passive alignment and ease of handling.