Abstract: A high-power multiplexer/demultiplexer (“mux/demux”) and a three-dimensional (“3D”) printed phase mask are provided for hollow-core optical fiber applications. The high-power mux/demux includes hollow core optical fiber interfaces configured to couple with free-space optical fiber cables, a diffraction grating, a 3D printed phase mask, and a set of lenses. The diffraction grating is configured, based on different wavelengths, either to at least diffract each optical signal of a plurality of optical signals having different wavelengths into two or more optical signals or to at least diffract a single optical signal having multiple wavelengths into a plurality of optical signals. The phase mask includes reflective features configured to reflect optical signals at different optical path lengths to provide reflected optical signals with different phases. The set of lenses is configured to collimate optical signals onto or from the diffraction grating or to focus optical signals onto or from the phase mask.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for implementing a hollow core fiber-based line-system with an out-of-band optical supervisory channel. A first transponder, located at a first location, transmits optical data traffic at a first wavelength range to a second transponder, at a second location, over at least one hollow core fiber (“HCF”) cable communicatively coupling the first and second transponders over a fiber path distance that is at least 60 kilometers. The first transponder further transmits an optical supervisory channel (“OSC”) signal at a second wavelength to the second transponder over the at least one HCF cable. The OSC signal corresponds to diagnostic data associated with transmission of the optical data signal and/or associated with operation of a system including the first and second transponders. The second wavelength is separate from the first wavelength range by at least a threshold wavelength separation.

Abstract: An in-cable fiber shuffle is described, the in-cable fiber shuffle having a first end and a second end. The in-cable fiber shuffle comprises a first plurality of optical fibers, each optical fiber comprising a continuous length of fiber from a first end to a second end. The in-cable fiber shuffle further comprises a first plurality of multi-fiber connectors at the first end of the in-cable fiber shuffle and a second plurality of multi-fiber connectors at the second end of the in-cable fiber shuffle. Each one of the first plurality of multi-fiber connectors are connected to the first ends of a different, non-overlapping subset of the first plurality of optical fibers and each optical fiber connected to a respective one of the first plurality of multi-fiber connectors is connected at its second end to a different one of the second plurality of multi-fiber connectors.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for implementing a free space optical backplane structure including a body and a plurality of mirrors. The body includes a chamber, a front panel, and a plurality of apertures disposed in the front panel, the plurality of apertures including a first set of apertures and a second set of apertures. The plurality of mirrors includes first and second arrays of mirrors mounted at first and second sets of heights, respectively, within the chamber, and is aligned with the first and second sets of apertures located in the front panel. The first and second arrays of mirrors are arranged to direct laser signals travelling through free space that are transmitted from or to a first device through the first set of apertures, between the first and second arrays of mirrors, and to or from a corresponding second device through the second set of apertures.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for implementing a free space optical backplane structure including a body and a plurality of mirrors. The body includes a chamber, a front panel, and a plurality of apertures disposed in the front panel, the plurality of apertures including a first set of apertures and a second set of apertures. The plurality of mirrors includes first and second arrays of mirrors mounted at first and second sets of heights, respectively, within the chamber, and is aligned with the first and second sets of apertures located in the front panel. The first and second arrays of mirrors are arranged to direct laser signals travelling through free space that are transmitted from or to a first device through the first set of apertures, between the first and second arrays of mirrors, and to or from a corresponding second device through the second set of apertures.

Abstract: An optical communications network comprises optical data links comprising data channels. A time-domain sampled waveform of a selected data channel is obtained. The Fourier transform is applied to the time-domain sampled waveform of the selected data channel to generate a frequency-domain waveform of the selected data channel. Time-domain sampled waveforms of the selected data channels neighboring data channels are obtained. The Fourier transform is applied to the time-domain sampled waveforms of the neighboring data channels to generate frequency-domain waveforms of the neighboring data channels. The noise-to-signal ratio is calculated based on the frequency-domain waveforms. Based on the calculated noise-to-signal ratio, an optical signal to noise ratio (OSNR) penalty is estimated. A notification is generated when the OSNR penalty exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Examples of the present disclosure describe an interlock mechanism for optical fibers. A protective enclosure for selectively covering a manual release mechanism of an optical fiber connector is described. In some examples, an optical system includes the protective enclosure, a mechanical actuator, and an optical device, among other components. A user interacts with the mechanical actuator to move the protective enclosure to a covered position or an uncovered position, disallowing or allowing, respectively, physical access to the manual release mechanism. The user's interaction with the mechanical actuator also concurrently turns the optical device on, off, or to a different power level, which provides, stops, or reduces the power of, respectively, optical signals provided to the optical fibers via the optical connector.

Abstract: A system for transmitting a light signal between a first solid core optical fiber network and a hollow core fiber network includes a plurality of transponder-amplifiers, where each transponder-amplifier of the plurality of transponder-amplifiers comprises a transponder in optical communication with one of a power amplifier and a pre-amplifier. The plurality of transponder-amplifiers is in optical communication with the first solid core optical fiber network and is operative to receive a plurality of first light signals from the plurality of transponder amplifiers. A multiplexer located downstream of the plurality of transponder-amplifiers is operative to receive the plurality of first light signals. The multiplexer is operative to select between a plurality of first light signals and transmits at least one light signal of the plurality of first light signals to the hollow core fiber network.

Abstract: A device for transmitting data from a plurality of solid core optical fibers to a hollow core fiber comprises a multiplexer; a first 4F optical system that is operative to receive the light output from the multiplexer; an amplifier disposed downstream of the first 4F optical system and upstream of a second 4F optical system, where the second 4F optical system is operative to receive amplified light output from the amplifier and output the amplified light to the hollow core fiber in a form that is compatible with the hollow core fiber.

Abstract: A high-power multiplexer/demultiplexer (“mux/demux”) and a three-dimensional (“3D”) printed phase mask are provided for hollow-core optical fiber applications. The high-power mux/demux includes hollow core optical fiber interfaces configured to couple with free-space optical fiber cables, a diffraction grating, a 3D printed phase mask, and a set of lenses. The diffraction grating is configured, based on different wavelengths, either to at least diffract each optical signal of a plurality of optical signals having different wavelengths into two or more optical signals or to at least diffract a single optical signal having multiple wavelengths into a plurality of optical signals. The phase mask includes reflective features configured to reflect optical signals at different optical path lengths to provide reflected optical signals with different phases. The set of lenses is configured to collimate optical signals onto or from the diffraction grating or to focus optical signals onto or from the phase mask.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for implementing a free space optical backplane structure including a body and a plurality of mirrors. The body includes a chamber, a front panel, and a plurality of apertures disposed in the front panel, the plurality of apertures including a first set of apertures and a second set of apertures. The plurality of mirrors includes first and second arrays of mirrors mounted at first and second sets of heights, respectively, within the chamber, and is aligned with the first and second sets of apertures located in the front panel. The first and second arrays of mirrors are arranged to direct laser signals travelling through free space that are transmitted from or to a first device through the first set of apertures, between the first and second arrays of mirrors, and to or from a corresponding second device through the second set of apertures.

Abstract: A power transient event detection system includes a first bank of photodetectors (PDs) located within a first node of an optical communication system. Each PD within the first bank of PDs has a different response time. The system further includes an output signal monitor that monitors signal output from each of the PDs in the first bank and that logs power transient event detection information. A transient event characterizer identifies, based on the logged event detection information, a subset of the PDs in the first bank that observed a power transient event, and determines a duration of the power transient event based on an amount of time that the signal output satisfies low signal criteria for at least one PD in the subset.

Abstract: A system for monitoring coherent optical service channel includes a transmitter configured to generate a multiple polarization signal based on an input signal, a hollow core fiber (HCF) configured to transmit the multiple polarization signal, a receiver configured to receive the multiple polarization signal, and a digital signal processor (DSP) configured to monitor one or more operating parameters of the received multiple polarization signal. The multiple polarization signal may use both the phase and the frequency polarization to multiplex the optical signal.

Abstract: A power transient event detection system includes a first bank of photodetectors (PDs) located within a first node of an optical communication system. Each PD within the first bank of PDs has a different response time. The system further includes an output signal monitor that monitors signal output from each of the PDs in the first bank and that logs power transient event detection information. A transient event characterizer identifies, based on the logged event detection information, a subset of the PDs in the first bank that observed a power transient event, and determines a duration of the power transient event based on an amount of time that the signal output satisfies low signal criteria for at least one PD in the subset.

Abstract: An optical communications network comprises optical data links comprising data channels. A time-domain sampled waveform of a selected data channel is obtained. The Fourier transform is applied to the time-domain sampled waveform of the selected data channel to generate a frequency-domain waveform of the selected data channel. Time-domain sampled waveforms of the selected data channels neighboring data channels are obtained. The Fourier transform is applied to the time-domain sampled waveforms of the neighboring data channels to generate frequency-domain waveforms of the neighboring data channels. The noise-to-signal ratio is calculated based on the frequency-domain waveforms. Based on the calculated noise-to-signal ratio, an optical signal to noise ratio (OSNR) penalty is estimated. A notification is generated when the OSNR penalty exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A preFEC BER of a selected optical link is determined. A FEC Detected Degrade (FDD) threshold, FEC Excessive Degrade (FED) threshold, and FEC limit threshold are obtained for the selected optical link. The FDD threshold is less than the FED threshold and the FED threshold is less than the FEC limit. Based on the FDD threshold, FED threshold, the FEC limit, and a determination that a postFEC BER==0, it is determined whether a link down condition of the selected optical link can be asserted or de-asserted.

Abstract: A preFEC BER of a selected optical link is determined. A FEC Detected Degrade (FDD) threshold, FEC Excessive Degrade (FED) threshold, and FEC limit threshold are obtained for the selected optical link. The FDD threshold is less than the FED threshold and the FED threshold is less than the FEC limit. Based on the FDD threshold, FED threshold, the FEC limit, and a determination that a postFEC BER==0, it is determined whether a link down condition of the selected optical link can be asserted or de-asserted.

Abstract: An optical communications network comprises optical data links comprising data channels. A time-domain sampled waveform of a selected data channel is obtained. The Fourier transform is applied to the time-domain sampled waveform of the selected data channel to generate a frequency-domain waveform of the selected data channel. Time-domain sampled waveforms of the selected data channel's neighboring data channels are obtained. The Fourier transform is applied to the time-domain sampled waveforms of the neighboring data channels to generate frequency-domain waveforms of the neighboring data channels. The noise-to-signal ratio is calculated based on the frequency-domain waveforms. Based on the calculated noise-to-signal ratio, an optical signal to noise ratio (OSNR) penalty is estimated. A notification is generated when the OSNR penalty exceeds a predetermined threshold.