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/(se abrirá en una nueva ventana)