High-speed (11 Gbit/s) data transmission using perfluorinated graded-index polymer optical fibers for short interconnects (< 100 m)

Perfluorinated graded-index polymer optical fibers (GI-POF's) have been developed that offer low losses (50 dB/km) and high bandwidth (>0.3 GHz.km) at data communication wavelengths (0.85 and 1.3 mu m). Here we demonstrate that such fibers can support data rates up to 11 Gbit/s for 100 m with low-power penalty and large-power margins. Although a restricted launch was used, differential mode delay measurements show that, in a large central region of the fiber core (50% of the core diameter), very large bandwidths can be obtained with modest alignment requirements. These improved transmission characteristics (obtained using inexpensive, uncooled, unisolated 1.3-mu m Fabry-Perot sources and pin detectors) together with potential low-cost connectorization and a small fiber bend-radius make perfluorinated GI-POF's a candidate for premise networks and short-reach telecom and computer interconnections.