Efficient Channel Model for Homogeneous Weakly Coupled Multicore Fibers

In recent years, several channel models for homogenous weakly coupled multicore fibers (WC-MCFs) have been proposed. To model the intercore crosstalk (XT) accurately, the amount of computation effort for numerical simulation becomes unacceptable because the calculation step size must be small enough to describe the XT that is occurring at each phase-matching point. In this paper, which is based on the nonlinear Schrodinger equations and utilizes the XT transfer function for downsampling XT in the frequency domain, we propose an efficient homogeneous WC-MCF channel model that can quickly and accurately describe the XT. The proposed channel model assumes that the WC-MCF operates in the phase-matching region and that the mean XT power is constant within the simulation time window. The relationship between the frequency-dependent characteristics of XT and the walk-off is confirmed by both simulations and experiments, which shows good agreement with the theoretical results. We also discuss the scope of the validity of the proposed channel model with different mean XT power and walk-off. In conclusion, the channel model shows good flexibility for different homogeneous WC-MCF-based transmission systems.