New 3D-printed microscale photonic lantern opens opportunities for spatial mode multiplexing

Optical waves propagating through air or multi-mode fiber can be patterned or decomposed using orthogonal spatial modes, with far-ranging applications in imaging, communication, and directed energy. Yet the systems that perform these wavefront manipulations are cumbersome and large, restricting their utilization to high-end applications.

The development of a free-standing microscale photonic lantern spatial mode (de-)multiplexer using 3D nanoprinting, as revealed by a recent study, marks a significant advancement in photonic technology. This spatial multiplexer, characterized by its compactness, minimal footprint, and ability to directly print on and adhere to photonic circuits, optical fibers, and optoelectronic elements such as lasers and photodetectors, opens new opportunities in system integration and adoption of the technology in future high-capacity communication systems and demanding imaging modalities.

The work is published in the journal Light: Science & Applications.

The study by Ph.D. candidate student Yoav Dana, supervised by Professor Dan Marom and his team at the Institute of Applied Physics, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, in partnership with scientists from Nokia Bell Labs, resulted in the development and demonstration of a free-standing microscale photonic lantern spatial mode (de-)multiplexer. The diminutive photonic lantern was fabricated by a 3D nanoprinting technique utilizing direct laser writing, applied directly onto an optical fiber tip.

Photonic lantern devices convert between optical waves containing a superposition of modes or distorted wavefronts and array of separated single mode optical signals. The technology stands out as a promising contender to enable space division multiplexing (SDM) in high-capacity future optical communication networks, as well as in imaging and other applications requiring the spatial manipulation of optical waves.

Harnessing the capabilities of 3D nano-printing and employing high-index contrast waveguides, the researchers have developed a compact and versatile device that can be printed onto nearly any solid platform with fine accuracy and high fidelity, enabling its seamless integration into a variety of technological contexts. The ~100 micrometer scale device stands in large contrast to traditional photonic lanterns based on weakly guiding waveguides that are millimeters–centimeters long, making integration with microscale photonic systems very challenging.

"The development of this free-standing microscale photonic lantern spatial mode (de-)multiplexer represents a significant advancement in our ability to enable and adopt spatial multiplexing for diverse optical systems and applications," said Professor Dan Marom. "This breakthrough makes space division multiplexing technology much more accessible and amenable towards integration, opening up new possibilities for optical communication and imaging applications, to name a few."

The researchers have presented the device design using genetic algorithms, fabrication onto a fiber tip, and characterization of a six-mode mixing, 375µm long photonic lantern capable of converting between six single-mode inputs into a single six-mode waveguide. Despite its compact size, the device exhibits low insertion loss (-2.6 dB), low wavelength sensitivity and low polarization and mode-dependent losses (-0.2 dB and -4.4 dB respectively).