Design and Optimization of a Single-Mode Multi-Core Photonic Crystal Fiber With the Nanorod Assisted Structure to Suppress the Crosstalk

We propose and design a novel homogeneous nanorod-assisted multi-core photonic crystal fiber (NA-PCF), and it utilizes the flexibility of photonic crystal fiber (PCF) for air-hole design, NA-PCF applied to multi-core fiber (MCF) communication system. High refractive index nanorods are introduced in the center of the seven cores which are further surrounded by a periodical arrangement of air-holes. The air-holes and the nanorods work together to greatly suppress the crosstalk (XT) between the cores. By comprehensively balancing the influence of various parameters on XT, single-mode cutoff wavelength ( λ cc) and the effective mode field area (Aeff), simulation results show that the NA-PCF has a Aeff of about 70.26 μm2, XT of about −50.58 dB/km, relative core multiplicity factor (RCMF) of 4.7 and λ cc of 1530 nm. This designed structure targets applications in large-capacity long-distance MCF communication.