Channel (broadcasting)

Multiplexing

Free-space optical communication

MIMO

Bandwidth (computing)

Wireless

Communications system

Operating system

Software deployment

Optical communication

Fiber optic splitter

Engineering

Fiber optic sensor

Multiwavelength optical networking

Optical fiber

Electronic engineering

Computer science

Optical wireless

Transmission (telecommunications)

Telecommunications

Spatial multiplexing

IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials

Time, polarization, and wavelength multiplexing schemes have been used to satisfy the growing need of transmission capacity. Using space as a new dimension for communication systems has been recently suggested as a versatile technique to address future bandwidth issues. We review the potentials of harnessing the space as an additional degree of freedom for communication applications including free space optics, optical fiber installation, underwater wireless optical links, on-chip interconnects, data center indoor connections, radio frequency, and acoustic communications. We focus on the orbital angular momentum (OAM) modes and equally identify the challenges related to each of the applications of spatial modes and the particular OAM modes in communication. We further discuss the perspectives of this emerging technology. Finally, we provide the open research directions and discuss the practical deployment of OAM communication links for different applications.

Communicating Using Spatial Mode Multiplexing: Potentials, Challenges, and Perspectives