Dispersion division multiplexing in subcarrier modulated data transmission using channel-specific RF fading

We demonstrate a novel all-optical multiplexing technique for doubling the usable spectral bandwidth and number of channels in subcarrier-modulated data transmission over optical fiber. By taking advantage of the chromatic-dispersion-induced RF power fading of a given subcarrier frequency, we transmit two subcarrier channels that occupy the same frequency space. This is accomplished by designing the dispersion of each subcarrier channel in a system such that one subcarrier channel can be >99% faded at the same time that another subcarrier can be recovered. We have successfully transmitted and received two 155-Mb/s data channels that are both located at 7.1 GHz and on the same optical carrier wavelength.