Selectable mode cross-transformation in orbital-angular-momentum- and wavelength-multiplexing channels
Phys. Rev. Applied 24, 044010 – Published 3 October, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/pz4z-l4q3
Abstract
Data exchange across various orbital-angular-momentum (OAM) channels is a crucial interconnection process within mode-multiplexed optical communication networks. However, the versatile cross-connection of multidimensional hybrid channels, especially those involving modes and wavelengths, has been constrained in conventional monochromatic operations, impeding their advancement in multiwavelength systems. Herein, we introduce a selectable mode cross-transformation solution for OAM mode-wavelength hybrid cross-connections by constructing wavelength-dependent rotatable diffractive deep neural networks (NNs). Incorporated with wavelength-sensitive free-space Fresnel diffraction, this framework achieves chromatic dispersion decoupling of three wavelength channels with an 8-nm interval. By deploying spatially engineered rotatable diffractive layers, the NNs unlock switchable unitary transformations for paired OAM modes, allowing for parallel yet independent multimode interconversions across each wavelength dimension, with insertion losses under −5.82 dB and mode purities above 85.8%. As an application demonstration, dynamic data exchange of quadrature phase-shift keying signal streams is successfully implemented by selectively cross-connecting six mode-wavelength multiplexing channels, obtaining bit-error rates close to . The feasibility of the presented method for both partial and full channel cross-connections under seven static interconnection scenarios is validated and highlighted. Our solutions establish a scalable and miniaturized diffractive network architecture for comprehensive manipulation of both OAM modes and wavelengths, offering a foundational platform for multidimensional channel processing in optical communications and dynamic interconnections.