Optical fiber higher order mode technologies and their application within communication, sensing and bio imaging

Project Information

HOMTech

Grant agreement ID: 101072409

DOI

10.3030/101072409

EC signature date 6 July 2022

Start date 1 October 2022

End date 31 January 2027

Funded under

• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 2 807 107,20

Coordinated by

DANMARKS TEKNISKE UNIVERSITET
Denmark

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - HOMTech (Optical fiber higher order mode technologies and their application within communication, sensing and bio imaging)

Reporting period: 2022-10-01 to 2024-09-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The aim of HOMTech is to train a new generation of researchers within the topic of higher order mode (HOM) optical fibre technologies.

The communication infrastructure of modern society relies on optical fibres, whose continued development is crucial to fulfil the ever-increasing bandwidth demands required to connect the world efficiently and sustainably by at the same time reducing energy consumption. Fibres supporting propagation of light in so-called higher order modes (HOMs), i.e. having unique transverse field distributions, have gained major research interest in recent years.

HOMs fibres have already shown potential of superior performance compared to single mode fibre-based systems within certain existing applications and enabled new technologies with associated applications. Examples include demonstration of improved capacity carried by a single fibre – this is key to minimizing the number of fibres used in, for example, data centres and hereby reducing energy consumption. HOM fibres may also enable new and improved imaging capabilities, i.e. imaging modalities not possible with existing technology. In addition, demonstration of distributed fibre sensors that can sense multiple parameters as strain and temperature with unprecedented resolution. This enables efficient and reliable delivery of energy from remotely located offshore windfarms, so-called energy islands, hereby advancing the green energy transition of our society.
There are however still many challenges before HOM fibres come into widespread use. To train the next generation of researchers to overcome these 10 Ph.D. projects has been defined within three work packages (WP). WP1 on communication, WP2 on mode properties, and WP 3 on sensing.

HOMTech website: https://www.homtech.aphys.kth.se/

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Three Ph.D training schools have been held. Besides the 10 HOMTech DC a handful of external Ph.D. student attended the schools. Further broadening the contact network of the HOMTech DCs.

The first training school was hosted by the University of Padova in June 2023 and focused on:
• Background information on light propagation in optical fibres;
• Overview of principles and applications of optical fibre sensors, with special emphasis on the distributed ones;
• Public speaking skills.

The second training school was hosted by Eindhoven University of Technology in December 2023 and focused on:
• Lectures on Channel Modelling SDM, Channel Characterisation and SDM components: Multiplexers
• A mini workshop, Hack your research with Python
• Introduction to open science & open access publishing and Research Data Management
T
he third training school was held at Chalmers University of Technology in June 2024 and focused on:
• Non linear effect in HOM fibres
• Ethics and ethic dilemmas

Most DCs have spent the first year in training mode, aimed at learning to work in their respective lab. However, several results beyond the stat of art have been obtained resulting in several prestigious publications.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Transmission of mode multiplexed quantum keys. The results were published at the European Conference on Optical Communication (ECOC) in September 2024.

Transmission of communication channels in a very wide wavelength band. The results were published at ECOC in September 2024.

Modelling and measurement of bend loss properties of higher order modes. The results were published at ECOC in September 2024.

An improved method for characterization of HOM fibres and components was published at ECOC in September 2024. The paper won the runner up price for best student paper at ECOC.

The lifetimes of Erbium-doped spheres has been studied. The result was published at Europhoton in August 2024.

Demonstration of mode conversion of single photons. The results were published at CLEO PacificRIM in August 2024.

HOMTech DCs after sharing their research results, at poster session at the HOMTech training school a