Abstract

We investigate the influence of mode coupling on space division multiplexing capability of three multimode step-index plastic optical fibers with different strengths of mode coupling. Results show that mode coupling significantly limits the fiber length at which the space division multiplexing can be realized with a minimal crosstalk between the neighbor optical channels. Three, four and five spatially multiplexed channels in the investigated multimode step-index plastic optical fibers can be employed with a minimal crosstalk up to the fiber lengths which are about 7%, 5% and 3% of the corresponding coupling lengths (fiber length where equilibrium mode distribution is achieved), respectively. Such characterization of optical fibers should be considered in designing an optical fiber transmission system for space division multiplexing