Recent advances in high-capacity free-space optical and radio-frequency communications using orbital angular momentum multiplexing
Abstract
There is a continuing growth in the demand for data bandwidth, and the multiplexing of multiple independent data streams has the potential to provide the needed data capacity. One technique uses the spatial domain of an electromagnetic (EM) wave, and space division multiplexing (SDM) has become increasingly important for increased transmission capacity and spectral efficiency of a communication system. A subset of SDM is mode division multiplexing (MDM), in which multiple orthogonal beams each on a different mode can be multiplexed. A potential modal basis set to achieve MDM is to use orbital angular momentum (OAM) of EM waves. In such a system, multiple OAM beams each carrying an independent data stream are multiplexed at the transmitter, propagate through a common medium and are demultiplexed at the receiver. As a result, the total capacity and spectral efficiency of the communication system can be multiplied by a factor equal to the number of transmitted OAM modes. Over the past few years, progress has been made in understanding the advantages and limitations of using multiplexed OAM beams for communication systems. In this review paper, we highlight recent advances in the use of OAM multiplexing for high-capacity free-space optical and millimetre-wave communications. We discuss different technical challenges (e.g. atmospheric turbulence and crosstalk) as well as potential techniques to mitigate such degrading effects.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Feb 28, 2017
- Source ID
- 10.1098/rsta.2015.0439
Entities
People
- Alan E. Willner
- Andreas F. Molisch
- Guodong Xie
- Jian Wang
- Long Li
- Moshe Tur
- Solyman Ashrafi
- Yan Yan
- Yongxiong Ren
- Zhe Zhao
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Huazhong University of Science and Technology
- Tel Aviv University
- University of Southern California