Demonstration of simultaneous mode conversion and demultiplexing for mode and wavelength division multiplexing systems based on tilted few-mode fiber Bragg gratings.

We experimentally demonstrate mode conversion by exploiting optical reflection of tilted few-mode fiber Bragg grating (FM-FBG). Mode conversions from LP(01) mode to higher symmetric and asymmetric modes are achieved, and more than 99.5% conversion efficiency from LP(01) to LP(11) mode is obtained using a 1.6°-tilted FM-FBG. Influences of the weakly tilted FM-FBG parameters on the property of mode conversion is analyzed and discussed. A simultaneous mode conversion and demultiplexing scheme for 4-mode × 3-wavelength multiplexing transmission is proposed and the modal crosstalk is analyzed based on the transmission spectra of the tilted FM-FBGs. The proposed approach shows potential applications in mode and wavelength division multiplexing communication systems.