Advances in Multimode Optical Fibers and Related Technologies
A special issue of Photonics (ISSN 2304-6732). This special issue belongs to the section "Optoelectronics and Optical Materials".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 September 2026 | Viewed by 6558
Special Issue Editors
Interests: short-reach optical communications; multimode fibers; specialty fibers; fiber measurement
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Multimode fibers (MMFs) paired with Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers (VCSELs) have been extensively deployed for short-reach communications, covering distances from a few meters up to 100 meters or more. With a larger core diameter compared to single-mode fibers, MMFs allow for easier light coupling and simplified installation and alignment processes. VCSELs, cost-effective light sources for short-reach applications, are commonly used with MMFs. Various types of multimode fibers, such as OM3 and OM4, support different bandwidths and distances, making them ideal for high-speed connections ranging from 10 to 400 Gbps within data centers. The VCSEL-MMF ecosystem is both cost-effective and power-efficient.
However, MMFs face several challenges when scaling up to data rates of 100G and 200G per lane, primarily due to bandwidth limitations. As data rates increase, modal dispersion becomes more pronounced, leading to signal degradation and reduced transmission distances. Another significant challenge is the need for higher-quality components, such as advanced VCSELs, to maintain signal integrity at higher data rates, which can increase the overall cost and complexity of the system. Despite these challenges, the VCSEL-MMF solution still holds advantages over other competing technologies, moving toward higher data rates and higher density.
On the other hand, several major opportunities are emerging for MMF technology. The rise of AI and GPU-based computing has accelerated data rate increases, with the latest GPU architectures paving the way towards 200G speeds. VCSEL-MMF-based optical interconnects provide cost-effective and power-efficient solutions for connecting memory and GPUs, increasingly replacing copper cables, which are limited in distance and bandwidth.
MMF technology is also advancing in various application domains. One such area is its use in high-density fiber bundles, serving as a replacement for copper in AI "scale-up" applications. Another potential application for MMFs is the next-generation solution for in-vehicle optical networks (IVONs), for which the new standard (IEEE 802.3cz) has been established.
This Special Issue aims to present original state-of-the-art research articles covering the latest developments in the field. Researchers are invited to submit their contributions. Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
- 100G/lane and 200G/lane VCSEL transmission over MMFs;
- Bandwidth requirements for high-data-rate MMF transmission;
- High-density multimode fiber bundles for AI-based computing;
- Multimode fibers used in in-vehicle optical networks;
- Density requirements and high-density multimode solutions;
- Advances in next-generation high-speed VCSELs;
- Techno-economic analysis of short-reach interconnect solutions in data centers or AI spaces;
- Encircled flux and launch conditions within VCSEL-multimode fiber systems;
- Mode-division multiplexed transmission over multimode fibers.
Dr. Xin Chen
Dr. Hao Dong
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- multimode fibers
- modal bandwidth
- VCSELs
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