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400 Gbps/λ PAM-4 data transmission over FSO link by employing space division multiplexing for data center interconnects using LG modes enabled VCSELs

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Abstract

In this paper, a high-speed short-reach free space optical (FSO) transmission system is proposed for data center interconnect (DCI). This system supports the transmission of 400 Gbps over a single wavelength by employing spatial vertical cavity surface emitting lasers. Space division multiplexing along with polarization division multiplexing of the Laguerre–Gaussian (LG) modes (LG\(_{00}\) and LG\(_{01}\)) are exploited to achieve higher capacity over FSO channel. Intensity modulation direct detection scheme is used in the proposed system for cost-efficiency. Least mean square equalization is applied to the received data signals to mitigate the FSO channel’s impairments. The performance of the proposed system is evaluated by observing the bit error ratio (BER) for weak, moderate and strong turbulences at different weather dynamics. The effects of polarization induced crosstalk and aperture misalignment induced crosstalk on BER degradation are also investigated. FSO channel lengths of 700 m, 500 m and 150 m are achieved for weak, moderate and strong turbulences, respectively. The receiver sensitivities at forward error correction limit of \(3.8\times 10^{-3}\) for each FSO channel length are compared with back to back configuration. A penalty of 2.5 dB is observed for strong turbulence whereas 2 dB and 0.6 dB penalties are obtained for moderate and weak turbulences, respectively. The proposed FSO-DCI could be used to provide high aggregate transmission capacity of 800 Gbps and 1.6 Tbps for future DCI by adding more LG modes or other wavelengths.

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Availability of data and materials

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Funding

This work is supported by COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Islamabad, Pakistan, under research fund CUI/ORIC-PD/2022.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Saeed Iqbal, Muhammad Iqbal, Jawad Mirza, Salman Ghafoor and Ahmad Atieh have contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Islamabad, Pakistan

    Aadil Raza

  2. Department of Computer Science, Barani Institute of Information Technology, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

    Saeed Iqbal

  3. Department of Computer Science, National University of Technology (NUTECH), Islamabad, Pakistan

    Muhammad Iqbal

  4. SEECS Photonics Research Group, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Jawad Mirza

  5. SEECS, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan

    Salman Ghafoor

  6. Optiwave System Inc., Ottawa, Ontario, K2E 8A7, Canada

    Ahmad Atieh

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  1. Aadil Raza
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by AR and SI and JM. The first draft of the manuscript was written by MI, SG and AA and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Aadil Raza.

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Raza, A., Iqbal, S., Iqbal, M. et al. 400 Gbps/λ PAM-4 data transmission over FSO link by employing space division multiplexing for data center interconnects using LG modes enabled VCSELs. Opt Quant Electron 55, 283 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11082-023-04572-8

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