2013 Volume 2 Issue 2 Pages 67-73
This paper discusses optical diversity transmission through multi-core fiber and the use of maximum-ratio combined reception to mitigate fiber non-linear distortion. The maximum-ratio combining theory for microwave communication systems is extended to optical transmission. This scheme allows increases in the optical fiber launched power and thus enhances Q-factor by 2 and 4dB for two and four core diversity transmission, respectively.