Spatial division multiplexing (SDM) systems are essential to overcome the increasing demand for higher bandwidth data services. Nevertheless, SDM employment is challenging and complex impairments need to be addressed (e.g., crosstalk and nonlinearities). The application of spatial light modulation (with a spatial light modulator – SLM), in core/mode division multiplexing is foreseen to improve channel compensation. SLM based on liquid crystal on silicon technology allow a pixel-by-pixel arbitrarily adjustment of the phase-front of a beam in a reconfigurable way, being used as a diffractive device to reconstruct images from computer generated holograms (CGHs).
Setup deployment and correct alignments in these systems are critical. Therefore, first was implemented a visible setup and after extrapolated for infrared. The iterative Fourier transform algorithm was implemented to produce the CGHs.
Holograms were successful generated with the visible transmission SLM and the infrared reflective SLM. Nonetheless, further improvements in the setup alignments and CGH algorithm need to be developed to allow the generation of more precise holograms, essential to address the dimensions of SDM fibres.
These preliminary results are a first step for the effective implementation of spatial light modulation techniques to optimize transmission in SDM systems.