Industrial Research Chair in Fiber Optic Communications Systems (FOCUS Systems)

Optical communications is the backbone of our global society, touching every aspect of our lives. Optical links enable mobile telephony networks, social media, commercial and governmental services. Fiber bandwidth is being exhausted as we approach the Shannon limit.

We must re-invent the optical fiber to carry multiple modes of light where old fibers carry one. Increasing capacity combines advances in optical components such as fiber with the latest advances in electronic processing, including artificial intelligence to improve system architectures, digital signal processing, and component design.

The project covers two broad areas of research: one in spatial division multiplexing (SDM) to carry multiple modes in a single fiber core, and one in machine learning for (ML) for enhancing optical communications systems.