Design and applicability of multi-core fibers with standard cladding diameter

Abstract

We show the design and applicability of multi-core fiber (MCF) with the standard 125 μm cladding diameter to the telecommunication systems. It offers easier and practical use of the space-division multiplexing (SDM) technology given its excellent fiber productivity and utilization of existing standard technologies. We numerically and experimentally reveal that the simple step-index (SI) profile enables us to allocate four cores in the standard 125 μm cladding and to realize full compliance with G.657.A1 fiber. We then expand the design and concept of the standard cladding MCF and show the index profile and single-mode bandwidth offer control of XT characteristics. We elucidate the application scope of the standard cladding MCF for not only the full-band (O-L band) application to short-reach and terrestrial transmission consistent with ITU-T Recommendations G.652 and G.657, but also ultra-long haul transmission, such as submarine systems compliant with ITU-T Recommendation G.654.