SAMOA-NET

COVID-19 required a massive shift to Internet-based teleworking to keep the economy functioning. The “Spatial Multiplexing in Optical Access Networks (SAMOA-NET)” project is comprehensively investigating transmission using spatial multiplexing over multicore optical fibers in the optical access network and show how bottlenecks can be overcome in the future. Based on a jointly developed system concept, the partners will develop the components essential for data transmission. These include long-wavelength VCSEL and photodetector arrays, the multicore fiber, flexible coupling into and out of the multicore fiber using spatial light modulators, and MIMO signal processing.

To realize system simulations, the existing models of the individual system components are first extended for transmission over multicore fiber and validated with measurements on real components. A system demonstrator will integrate the individual components and demonstrate the feasibility. System simulations beyond this will show the scalability of the system approach to real-world scenarios.

HOLOEYE tasks in the project

HOLOEYE is working with Fraunhofer HHI to develop a SLM-based concept for, on one side, coupling the light from the VCSEL array into the multicore fibre, on another side, coupling the output of the multicore fibre to the detector array. Using a SLM allows for an holography-based adaptive coupling able to correct for the system tolereance, mechanical drifts, residual aberrations and to improve mode-matching. For up-scaling, the holographically generated optical functions can be performed in a second step by using a static Digital Optical Element (DOE), hence decreasing the costs. HOLOEYE is also working in cooperation with VPIphotonics to integrate an accurate model of the SLM including imperfections like pixel cross-talk and deviation from flatness.