Multi-Wavelength Soliton-Based Probing and Quantum-Ready Fiber Monitoring
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The increasing deployment of short-haul optical fibers in data centers and metropolitaninfrastructures has created a growing need for continuous, scalable, and physics-basedmonitoring solutions. Conventional optical time-domain reflectometry (OTDR) techniquesface limitations in short fiber links due to dense reflections, multipath interference, andrestricted dynamic range, while emerging security concerns demand sensitivity to subtle,non-destructive perturbations.This work proposes a multi-wavelength probing architecture based on externally generatedsoliton microcombs for parallel fiber monitoring. In contrast to traditionalsingle-wavelength OTDR systems, the proposed approach employs a shared, chip-scalesoliton comb source to generate a dense set of mutually coherent probe wavelengths thatpropagate linearly through existing fiber infrastructure. These wavelengths act asindependent sensing channels, enabling simultaneous interrogation of multiple fibers ormultiple spectral views of a single link.The paper focuses on system architecture, physical feasibility, and monitoring capabilitiesrather than quantum state generation or protocol design. Particular attention is given tocompatibility with emerging quantum communication infrastructure, where physical-layerintegrity and timing stability are critical prerequisites. By decoupling soliton generationfrom the monitored fiber and leveraging established fiber propagation physics, theproposed framework provides a realistic path toward scalable, quantum-ready fibermonitoring without modifications to deployed optical networks.
Author: Ben Hador, Ronen
Language: English
Topic: Optical Network Technologies
Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7116746577
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