Mode division multiplexing coupler of four LP modes based on a five-core microstructured optical fiber

An all-fiber mode division multiplexing coupler based on a five-core microstructured optical fiber is proposed to multiplex or demultiplex LP11, LP21, LP02 and LP01 modes simultaneously. The five-core microstructured optical fiber is composed of a few mode core supporting the four LP modes propagating at 1550 nm and four single-mode cores surrounding the few-mode core. The coupling mechanism between LP01 mode in each single-mode core and the corresponding four LP modes in the few-mode core is based on avoid-crossing effect. Numerical simulation results show that coupling bandwidths of LP11, LP21, LP02 and LP01 mode are 115 nm, 56 nm, 30 nm, 46 nm respectively, with a coupling length of 2156.1 μm. The proposed mode division multiplexing coupler can multiplex or demultiplex four LP modes simultaneously with large operation bandwidth, making it a good candidate for space-division multiplexing system.