Design of multi-core photonic crystal fiber for space-division multiplexing

We propose a multi-core photonic crystal fiber with W-shaped effective index profile to achieve a low interference among fiber cores. The fiber’s optical properties were simulated by using the vector finite element method (FEM). The fiber has a low crosstalk around -50 dB at 1550 nm after 100 km propagation and the effective model field area of MCPCF’s single fiber core is five times as large as the ordinary single-mode fiber’s. The single fiber of the MCPCF supports ultra wide-band transmission over 400-2400 nm.