Exploiting the bandwidth potential of multimode optical fibres
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Engineering
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Publications
Feng F
(2014)
Aberration Correction for Free Space Optical Communications Using Rectangular Zernike Modal Wavefront Sensing
in Journal of Lightwave Technology
Carpenter J
(2013)
Aberration correction in Spatial Light Modulator based mode multiplexers
Carpenter J
(2012)
All Optical Mode-Multiplexing Using Holography and Multimode Fiber Couplers
in Journal of Lightwave Technology
Feng F
(2017)
All-optical mode-group multiplexed transmission over a graded-index ring-core fiber with single radial mode.
in Optics express
Carpenter J
(2012)
Characterization of Multimode Fiber by Selective Mode Excitation
in Journal of Lightwave Technology
Gordon G
(2019)
Characterizing Optical Fiber Transmission Matrices Using Metasurface Reflector Stacks for Lensless Imaging without Distal Access
in Physical Review X
Gordon G
(2019)
Coherent Imaging Through Multicore Fibres With Applications in Endoscopy
in Journal of Lightwave Technology
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 | 03/2016 |
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 | 03/2016 |
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 | 03/2016 |
End | 03/2017 |
Description | Industrial PhD Studentship (S. Senanayake) |
Amount | £56,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Michell Instruments |
Sector | Private |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2013 |
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 |