Exploiting the bandwidth potential of multimode optical fibres

Lead Research Organisation: University of Cambridge
Department Name: Engineering

Abstract

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Description The control of modes within an optical fibre allows a whole range of different attributes of the fibre to be optimised and enhanced. The standard use of multi-mode fibre is very limited in applications such as telecommunications, however with the use of modal control, these limitations can be bypassed or controlled. As an example, modal control allows different optical modes to carry different channels of data all at the same time without interference, greatly expanding the available bandwidth of the fibre. The control can be implemented at both the input and the output of the fibre allowing a huge range of different properties to be enhanced or optimised. As well as demonstrating the power and versatility of modal control, this project has also shown that the technique s created a new generation of multi-core and custom core optical fibres which can carry even more data in an optimal fashion.
Exploitation Route The work on this project has demonstrated the power of the modal control; concept. This has already been adapted for use with fibre optical sensors to create enhance functionality as well as with optical endoscopes to enhance the detection of early stage oesophageal cancer. The reasearch on holographic endoscopy has been used as part of a collaborative multidiciplinary structure that has been sponsored by Cancer UK and is now part of the backgound research in the International Alliance for Cancer Early Detection (ACED).
Sectors Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Agriculture, Food and Drink,Chemicals,Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology,Transport
URL http://www-g.eng.cam.ac.uk/CMMPE/Projects/ModalControl.html
 
Description Holographic modal control has been used in the telecoms industry and is being developed by Huawei as part of their transmission network systems. The technique is has been used to expand the bandwidth of existing fibre installations, especially those that are using multimode fibre. There is also a lot of research being undertaken in the use of multicore fibres for enhanced network bandwidth and the holographic excitation technique is one of the mechanisms used to excite the required modes in these fibres now that their losses have been improved. The technique was also trialed as a means of improving the properties of optical fibre sensors by the company Michell Instruments, however the approach is not yet mature enough for their level of integration. The modal control techniques have also been applied to optical fibre endoscopes for the detection of early stage esophageal cancer as part of three CRUK grants as well as the ACED Alliance research platform. The mechanisms for endoscopic launch are still restricted due to the need for access to both ends of the endoscope, however research into solving this problem is ongoing at Nottingham University. The holographic launch system at Cambridge is now being used in a collaboration with the Euser Group in the Cavendish Labs, who are using the modal control system in conjunction wit their hologram fibres as a means of interrogating fibre based micro reactions between chemical species within the fibre cores as well as a means of mitigating the optical mixing effects of fibre bending.
First Year Of Impact 2013
Sector Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Construction,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology,Transport
Impact Types Societal,Economic
 
Description CRUK Multidisciplinary Project
Amount £60,000 (GBP)
Funding ID RG75463 
Organisation Cancer Research UK 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 11/2014 
End 10/2015
 
Description Cambridge Cancer Centre Early Detection Grant
Amount £100,000 (GBP)
Organisation Cambridge Cancer Centre 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 04/2016 
End 03/2017
 
Description Cancer Research UK Multidisciplinary Project
Amount £480,000 (GBP)
Funding ID C47594/A21102 
Organisation Cancer Research UK 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 04/2016 
End 03/2019
 
Description IAA Follow on Fund
Amount £60,000 (GBP)
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 04/2016 
End 03/2017
 
Description Industrial PhD Studentship (S. Senanayake)
Amount £56,000 (GBP)
Organisation Michell Instruments 
Sector Private
Country United Kingdom
Start 10/2013 
End 09/2016
 
Title Holographic modal multiplexer 
Description The modal mux system is a portable transmitter and receiver system which can be moved to different labs for use in modal mux fibre systems. 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Year Produced 2015 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact The portable mux system has allowed the mux to be used wit both a coherent detection system at UCL as well as a fully complex equalisation system 
URL http://www-g.eng.cam.ac.uk/CMMPE/telecoms.html
 
Description Flexoelectric device fabrication for next generation phase modulators. 
Organisation Huawei Technologies Research and Development UK Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Device fabrication for use in holographic switches in telecommunications networks with Huawei. This includes both ferroelectric and flexoelectric devices .
Collaborator Contribution Huawei have set up a feasibility study on the use of flexoelectric liquid crystals in the next generation of liquid crystal over silicon spatial light modulators for use in telecommunications networks. this includes the design and fabrication of a suitable; backplane for the devices which will be fabricated in Cambridge.
Impact none as yet, all work with Huawei has been suspended due to pandemic and politics with China.
Start Year 2020
 
Description PhD Studentship 
Organisation Michell Instruments
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution PhD Studentship in conjunction with the IFM Ultra Precision CIM. The student was sponsored by local company Michell Instruments as part of the IFM CIM on Ultra Precision Manufacturing. The project focused on novel; optical fibre sensors using the modal control system developed on the COMIMO project grant. PhD Completed March 2017..
Collaborator Contribution Michell paid the fees of the PhD studentship and provided testing facilities for the fibre sensors.
Impact Confidential IP filed with Michell Instruments
Start Year 2012
 
Description PhD Studentship 
Organisation University of Cambridge
Department Institute for Manufacturing
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution PhD Studentship in conjunction with the IFM Ultra Precision CIM. The student was sponsored by local company Michell Instruments as part of the IFM CIM on Ultra Precision Manufacturing. The project focused on novel; optical fibre sensors using the modal control system developed on the COMIMO project grant. PhD Completed March 2017..
Collaborator Contribution Michell paid the fees of the PhD studentship and provided testing facilities for the fibre sensors.
Impact Confidential IP filed with Michell Instruments
Start Year 2012
 
Description Modal fibre Youtube Channel 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact YouTube channel created by Dr Joel Carpenter which highlights the multi media aspects of his research into modal control in multimode fibres, The work is focused both on the scientific, educational and artistic aspects of his research into modal control in fibres. The work includes several very good tutorials on the basics of the technique which he pioneered hon the COMIMO EPSRC grant.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2018
URL https://www.youtube.com/user/joelacarpenter