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The line-of-sight (LOS) requirement of free-space optical (FSO) systems can be relaxed by employing optical intelligent reflecting surfaces (IRSs). In this paper, we model the impact of the IRS-induced delay dispersion and derive the channel impulse response (CIR) of IRS-assisted FSO links. The proposed model takes into account the characteristics of the incident and reflected beams' wavefronts, the position of transmitter and receiver, the size of the IRS, and the incident beamwidth on the IRS. Our simulation results reveal that a maximum effective delay spread of 0.7 ns is expected for a square IRS with area 1 $\mathrm{m}^2$, which induces inter-symbol interference for bit rates larger than 10 Gbps. We show that the IRS-induced delay dispersion can be mitigated via equalization at the receiver.

In this paper, we study optical simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT) systems, where a photovoltaic optical receiver (RX) is illuminated by ambient light and an intensity-modulated free space optical (FSO) signal. To facilitate simultaneous information reception and energy harvesting (EH) at the RX, the received optical signal is first converted to an electrical signal, and then, its alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) components are separated and utilized for information decoding and EH, respectively. By accurately analysing the equivalent electrical circuit of the photovoltaic RX, we model the current flow through the photovoltaic p-n junction in both the low and high input power regimes using a two-diode model of the p-n junction and we derive a closed-form non-linear EH model that characterizes the harvested power at the RX. Furthermore, taking into account the non-linear behaviour of the photovoltaic RX on information reception, we derive the optimal distribution of the transmit information signal that maximizes the achievable information rate. The proposed EH model is validated by circuit simulation results. Furthermore, we compare with two baseline models based on maximum power point (MPP) tracking at the RX and a single-diode p-n junction model, respectively, and demonstrate that in contrast to the proposed EH model, they are not able to fully capture the non-linearity of photovoltaic optical RXs. Finally, our numerical results highlight that the proposed optimal distribution of the transmit signal yields significantly higher achievable information rates compared to uniformly distributed transmit signals, which are optimal for linear optical information RXs., Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures, submitted for possible conference publication

A filter design based on Vernier microrings and wideband directional couplers is proposed for ASE noise suppression in next generation DCI applications. We demonstrate a 40 nm FSR-free filter with > 20.5 dB average ER and 3dB-BW of 75 GHz, achieving wavelength-independent performance and full tunability with a maximum tuning temperature of 75 K., Comment: This work has been partially funded by the German Ministry of Education and Research under the grant agreement 13N14937 (PEARLS)

In this paper, we report on the development progress of correlation-based optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR). Substituting the direct detection receiver with a coherent receiver enables to extract the phase and polarization information of the reflected signal. Furthermore, due to the mixing of a weak probe signal with a strong local oscillator the sensitivity of the receiver improved. This improvement was demonstrated by analyzing the reflection from an angled physical contact (APC) connector. To further quantify the improvements, we compare the direct detection correlation OTDR (C-OTDR) with the coherent detection correlation OTDR (CC-OTDR) with respect to the spatial and amplitude resolution., Comment: This work was partly funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (FKZ16KIS1279K) in the framework of the CELTIC-NEXT project AI-NET-Protect (Project ID C2019/3-4)

Using a Correlation-OTDR, we characterized the temperature-induced group delay variations of two nested antiresonant nodeless hollow core fibers. The temperature sensitivity of both is substantially less than for SSMF with some dependency on coating type., Comment: This work was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) under the project OptiCON with grant agreement number 16KIS0989K and UK EPSRC project Airguide

In this paper, we investigate the modeling and design of intelligent reflecting surface (IRS)-assisted optical communication systems which are deployed to relax the line-of-sight (LOS) requirement in multi-link free space optical (FSO) systems. The FSO laser beams incident on the optical IRSs have a Gaussian power intensity profile and a nonlinear phase profile, whereas the plane waves in radio frequency (RF) systems have a uniform power intensity profile and a linear phase profile. Given these substantial differences, the results available for IRS-assisted RF systems are not applicable to IRS-assisted FSO systems. Therefore, we develop a new analytical channel model for point-to-point IRS-assisted FSO systems based on the Huygens-Fresnel principle. Our analytical model captures the impact of the size, position, and orientation of the IRS as well as its phase shift profile on the end-to-end channel. To allow the sharing of the optical IRS by multiple FSO links, we propose three different protocols, namely the time division (TD), IRS-division (IRSD), and IRS homogenization (IRSH) protocols. The proposed protocols address the specific characteristics of FSO systems including the non-uniformity and possible misalignment of the laser beams. Furthermore, to compare the proposed IRS sharing protocols, we analyze the bit error rate (BER) and the outage probability of IRS-assisted multi-link FSO systems in the presence of inter-link interference. Our simulation results validate the accuracy of the proposed analytical channel model for IRS-assisted FSO systems and confirm that this model is applicable for both large and intermediate IRS-receiver lens distances. Moreover, in the absence of misalignment errors, the IRSD protocol outperforms the other protocols, whereas in the presence of misalignment errors, the IRSH protocol performs significantly better than the IRSD protocol.

Free-space optical (FSO) systems are able to offer the high data-rate, secure, and cost-efficient communication links required for applications such as wireless front- and backhauling for 5G and 6G communication networks. Despite the substantial advancement of FSO systems over the past decades, the requirement of a line-of-sight connection between transmitter and receiver remains a key limiting factor for their deployment. In this paper, we discuss the potential role of intelligent reflecting surfaces (IRSs) as a solution to relax this requirement. We present an overview of existing optical IRS technologies; compare optical IRSs with radio-frequency IRSs and optical relays; and identify various open problems for future research on IRS-assisted FSO communications.

We present Doppler-corrected position and velocity measurement with a fiber-coupled COFDR system based on the FMCW radar principle for high precision localization applications. A high measurement accuracy and the ability to track targets are demonstrated., Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, accepted for presentation at the 27th International Conference on Optical Fiber Sensors (OFS) 2020, Alexandria, Virginia, USA

Flying particle sensors in hollow-core photonic crystal fibers require accurate localization of the optically trapped microparticles. We report position measurement to micrometer-resolution, using optical frequency domain reflectometry, of two 1.65-$\mu$m-diameter polystyrene particles., Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, Accepted for presentation at the 27th International Conference on Optical Fibre Sensors (OFS) 2020, Alexandria, Virginia, USA

In this paper, we report on the integration of a Correlation-OTDR into a portable unit (30 cm x 30 cm), based on a multi-processor system on chip (MPSoC) and a small formfactor pluggable (SFP) 2.5G transceiver. Going beyond telecommunication applications, this system is demonstrated for temperature measurements, based on the change of propagation delay with temperature in a short section of optical fiber. The temperature measurement accuracy is investigated as a function of the fiber length from 4 to 25 meters., Comment: This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 762055 (blueSpace Project)

Several multi-core fibers (MCF) were characterized using Correlation Optical Time Domain Reflectometry (C-OTDR) in terms of propagation delay and polarization mode dispersion (PMD). The results show that the propagation delay in the cores depends on the position of the core in the fiber and that the differential delay between the cores varies with temperature., Comment: This work was partially funded by the blueSPACE project with funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement number 762055 and by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) under the project OptiCON with grant agreement number 16KIS0989K

By means of C-OTDR (Correlation - Optical Time Domain Reflectometry), we measured the latency of100 km fiber with an accuracy of a few picoseconds. Based on iterating 49 measurements, we calculated a standard deviation of 12 ps between the round-trip latency values. To verify the reflection measurements, we used a single pass setup without reflector, which showed a maximum difference of only 11 ps., Comment: This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 762055 (blueSpace Project)

Using a Correlation-OTDR and a modulation phase shift method we characterized four multi-core fibers. The results show that the differential delay depends on the position of the core in the fiber and varies with temperature., Comment: This work has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 762055 (BlueSpace Project)

We measured the latency of a 100 km fibre link using a Correlation OTDR. Improvements over previous results were achieved by increasing the probe signal rate to 10 Gbit/s, using dispersion compensation gratings, and coupling the receiver time base to an external PPS signal., Comment: This work has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 762055 (BlueSpace Project)

We demonstrate 64 GBd signal generation up to bipolar-8-ASK utilizing a single MZM, monolithically integrated with segmented drivers in SiGe. Using polarization multiplexing, 300-Gb/s net data rate transmission over 120 km SSMF is shown., Comment: This work has been partially funded by German ministry of education and research (BMBF) under the Celtic projects SENDATE Secure-DCI (16KIS0479) and SPEED (13N13748, 13N13744)

In this paper, we investigate the use of intelligent reflecting surfaces (IRSs) to relax the line-of-sight requirement of free space optical (FSO) systems. Considering a Gaussian laser beam, we first design a phase-shift distribution across the IRS that enables the reflection of the incident beam in any desired direction, i.e., realizing the generalized law of reflection. Moreover, for the designed phase-shift profile, we show that there exists an equivalent mirror-assisted FSO system that generates a reflected electric field on a mirror that is identical to that on the IRS in the original system. However, the location of the laser source and the properties of the emitted Gaussian laser beam are different in the original and the equivalent systems. This equivalence allows us to study the mirror-assisted system, employing the image method from geometric optics, instead of directly analyzing the original IRS-assisted system. Based on this analysis, we model the geometric and misalignment losses (GML) and characterize the impact of the physical parameters of the IRS, such as its size, position, and orientation, on the end-to-end FSO channel. Moreover, we develop a statistical model for the GML which accounts for the random movements of IRS, transmitter (Tx), and receiver (Rx) due to building sway. Furthermore, we analyze the outage probability of an IRS-assisted FSO link based on the derived channel model. Our simulation results validate the accuracy of the developed channel model and offer various insights for system design. For instance, both our simulations and theoretical analysis reveal that even if the variances of the fluctuations of the Tx, IRS, and Rx positions caused by building sway are identical, their impact on the end-to-end channel is not necessarily the same and depends on the relative positioning of these three nodes.

We experimentally demonstrate the coupling of far-field light to highly confined plasmonic gap modes via connected nanoantennas. The excitation of plasmonic gap modes is shown to depend on the polarization, position and wavelength of the incident beam. Far-field measurements performed in crossed polarization allow for the detection of extremely weak signals re-emitted from gap waveguides and can increase the signal-to-noise ratio dramatically., Comment: 5 figures; http://apl.aip.org/