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Journal of Lightwave Technology
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System Experiments with Multimode Waveguides and Fibers for Applications in Computer Interconnects

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Abstract

Future optical computer interconnects are likely to employ short lengths of multimode waveguides somewhere in the optical path. In computer interconnects where the bit-error-ratio must be smaller than 10−15 and where mode selective losses may be large it is of extreme importance to minimize any traces of modal noise. We investigate the effect on the modal noise induced bit-error-rate floor when passing light through short lengths (0.5 → 70 mm) of large core epoxy ridge wave-guides and multimode fibers. It is demonstrated that the bit-error-rate floor declines rapidly with the waveguide transmission distance, whereas for the multimode fiber the floor is independent on the length. The behavior is caused by a rapid mode fill taking place in the epoxy guide, and lack hereof in the fiber. This makes the epoxy waveguide an attractive candidate for short distance on-board and backplane interconnects and as a guiding interface between the multimode fiber and the laser and photodetector in main frame links. © 1991 IEEE

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Journal of Lightwave Technology

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