All-fibre wavelength conversion based on four-wave mixing in a ring erbium-doped fibre laser

A new scheme based on four-wave mixing is presented using a ring erbium-doped fibre laser and tuneable fibre Bragg gratings that can effectively perform wavelength conversion in a wide wavelength range. An application of this wavelength-conversion architecture to optical communications is also presented. PACS 42.65.-k; 42.65.Ky     

Bright and dark 40 GHz parabolic pulse generation using a picosecond optical pulse train and an arrayed waveguide grating

We demonstrate parabolic optical pulse generation by manipulating the intensity and phase of individual longitudinal modes of a 40 GHz picosecond optical pulse train in the spectral domain. Bright and dark parabolic pulses were generated from a 40 GHz mode-locked fiber laser using a 64-channel arrayed waveguide grating pulse shaper. The obtained parabolic pulse, which can easily generate a linear chirping, is useful for a number of applications to optical signal processing applications, including pulse compression and time-domain optical Fourier transformation.     

Simultaneous chromatic dispersion monitoring,extinction ratio enhancement and wavelength conversion using four-wave mixing

This paper presents a multi-functional all-optical device performs simultaneous chromatic dispersion (CD) monitoring, extinction ratio (ER) improvement and tunable wavelength conversion using four-wave mixing (FWM) in a single piece of highly nonlinear optical fiber (HNLF). The multi-functional ability arises from the nonlinear power transfer function (PTF) between the input signal and the output idler wave, which not only maps the CD information of the signal onto the average power of idler wave, but also transfers the data information to the idler wave with ER enhancement, making the device compact and cost effective. Furthermore within the wavelength tuning range the monitoring sensitivity and output ER can be much higher compared to all optical monitors and regenerators proposed before. Numerical simulations are then used to demonstrate the efficiency of this method.     

320 Gbit/s wavelength conversion using four-wave mixing in quantum-dot semiconductor optical amplifiers

In this study, we demonstrate error-free all-optical wavelength conversion of ultrahigh-speed intensity modulated signals by means of four-wave mixing in a quantum-dot semiconductor optical amplifier. Error-free performance at a bit rate of 320 Gbit/s is measured for the extracted 40 Gbit/s tributaries with a 3.4 dB average power penalty to the original signal.     

Generation of in-phase pulse train from optical beat signal

We propose and demonstrate generation of an in-phase optical pulse train from an optical beat signal. The proposed method is based on four-wave mixing occurring between the two continuous waves of the beat signal and on spectral filtering to shape the spectrum to be symmetric about the carrier frequency. We perform an experiment to verify the proposed method and obtain a 1.5 ps width in-phase pulse train from a 160 GHz beat signal. Furthermore, we employ a pulse compression scheme to reshape and compress the obtained pulse train, and we show that a 160 GHz repeating, 0.7 ps FWHM, nearly transform-limited, in-phase sech pulse train is successfully generated.     

基于光纤四波混频波长转换和色散的慢光实验研究

对基于光纤四波混频（FWM）波长转换和色散的慢光实现进行了详细和系统的实验研究.首先,实验测定了高非线性光纤中FWM带宽约为40 nm,从而确定了慢光的可调谐带宽;接着,在普通单模光纤和色散补偿光纤（DCF）中针对500 MHz正弦信号和100 ps短脉冲信号分别实现了34和198 ns的脉冲延迟,在DCF中还实现了209 ns的脉冲提前.讨论了增大延迟量的方法,指出随着宽带FWM波长转换的实现和大色散光纤的应用有望获得微秒量级的大延迟量,从而为高性能光纤延迟线和全光缓存器等应用提供支持. 关键词： 慢光 四波混频 色散     

Incoherent broadband optical pulse generation using an optical gate

In two-dimensional (2D) time-spreading/wavelength-hopping optical code division multiple access (OCDMA) systems, employing less coherent broadband optical pulse sources allows lower electrical operating rate and better system performance. An optical gate based scheme for generating weakly coherent(approximately incoherent) broadband optical pulses was proposed and experimentally demonstrated. Inthis scheme, the terahertz optical asymmetric demultiplexer, together with a coherent narrowband controlpulse source, turns an incoherent broadband continuous-wave (CW) light source into the required pulse source.     

Time- and wavelength-interleaved optical pulse train generation based on dispersion spreading and sectional compression

A method to generate time- and wavelength-interleaved optical pulse trains based on dispersion spreading and sectional compression is proposed and demonstrated. A 4×2 GHz time- and wavelength-interleaved pulse train is generated from an input 2 GHz mode-locked pulse train. The advantages of the proposed scheme are its simplicity and robustness, since no microwave component or multiwavelength laser source is required. In addition, we demonstrate supercontinuum generation of an ultraflat 18 nm bandwidth spectrum with less than 0.5 dB fluctuation over the 3.2 nm central bandwidth.     

Amplitude noise suppression in high-repetition-rate pulse train generation from a frequency-modulated Er-Yb laser

A detailed experimental analysis of the amplitude noise in high-repetition-rate picosecond pulse trains generated by spectral filtering of a frequency-modulated Er-Yb:glass laser is reported. Two distinct sources of noise are identified, and stabilization techniques for noise suppression are proposed and experimentally demonstrated. Intensity noise suppression of ∼20 dB, corresponding to less than 2% residual amplitude fluctuations of the pulse train, has been achieved at repetition rates of 2.5 GHz and 5 GHz with pulse durations of ∼50 ps. Received: 28 July 1999 / Revised version: 13 September 1999 / Published online: 20 October 1999     

Four-wave mixing in dual wavelength fiber laser utilizing SOA for wavelength conversion

In this paper, a novel configuration of a wavelength converter is set forth by utilizing a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) as a nonlinear gain medium to generate a four-wave mixing (FWM) effect by using a dual wavelength bi-erbium-doped fiber laser that uses an Arrayed Waveguide Grating (AWG) together with two optical channel selector (OSC) as selective elements to function as a dual wavelength switchable pump power. The four-wave mixing (FWM) is produced with a wavelength detuning of 7 nm from the pump and signal which used is as the converted signal at wavelength 1532.8 nm or 1534.5 nm for transferring data from the input signal at wavelength 1547.0 nm. Thus, even though the conversion efficiency is as low as −43 dB, it is still possible for applications as a wavelength converter.     

Dual wavelength referencing of optical fibre sensors

Dual wavelength configurations normally employed to eradicate the effects of variable signal losses in intensity-dependent optical sensors are discussed. Particular attention is paid to the referencing capability of each configuration in relation to the major sources of measurement contamination. Illustrative examples of generic type sensor system implementations are provided and assessed to identify areas of any serious shortcomings. It is found that while full referencing can be achieved with both single and dual LED systems the maximum achievable performance will be dependent on the extent of differential spectral effects which can occur because of a finite wavelength separation between the two optical signals.     

Simultaneous determination of fibre parameters by an improved four-photon mixing technique

We demonstrate the possibility of determining simultaneously the parameters of optical fibres using a stimulated four-wave mixing method without the requirement of considering the particular refractive index profile. The most suitable modal combinations that minimize the error in neglecting the refractive index profile are found and their dependence on the value of the V parameter. Experimental results that verify the accuracy of the proposed method are also given.     

Widely-wavelength-tunable few-cycle optical pulse generation from an all-fiber erbium-doped laser system

A scheme for the construction of fiber laser systems for the generation of tunable ultrashort optical pulses is proposed. The scheme is based on the self-Raman shift of the soliton frequency in dispersion-decreasing fibers with the subsequent spectral broadening owing to the supercontinuum generation in a short highly nonlinear fiber and the compression in the corresponding fiber compressor. An all-fiber laser system for the generation of ultrashort laser pulses in the wavelength range 1.6–2.0 μm is experimentally demonstrated. In particular, the shortest pulses with a duration of 24 fs are generated at wavelengths of 1.8–1.9 μm, which corresponds to less than four optical cycles.     

五能级原子开放系统中的多波混频共存特性

研究了受强缀饰场作用的五能级原子系统所产生的多波混频共存特性.研究发现,通过调节激光束方向,沿同一方向出射的八波混频、双缀饰四波混频和单缀饰六波混频信号因共用能级的原子相干产生而出现竞争现象,通过控制缀饰场减弱四波混频和六波混频信号强度,可以达到增强八波混频信号的目的.还对级联和并联两种不同缀饰方式下双缀饰四波混频过程的差别进行了详细分析. 关键词： 双缀饰四波混频 单缀饰六波混频 八波混频 抑制增强     

Polarization-independent wavelength conversion using a single semiconductor optical amplifier

Polarization-independent wavelength conversion is demonstrated by using four-wave mixing (FWM) in a single semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA). In this scheme, all the incident fields are split into two orthogonal-polarized parts by polarizing beam splitters (PBS). Each of the two parts is then transmitted into one facet of the SOA and they are counter-propagating through the same amplifier. Wavelength conversion with the polarization sensitivity less than 1.3 dB is obtained over a range from 1510 to 1620 nm.     

Magnetization of optically polarized gas atoms by an optical pulse train

The properties of the density matrix and the multipole moments arising in oriented and aligned atoms with zero nuclear spin through the interaction with strong resonant ultrashort pulses with wave vector k ₀ and circular or linear polarization have been found. Calculations have been made for the time-dependent light-induced magnetization μ(t′) of a gas of pre-oriented and prealigned atoms following the passage of a weak resonant elliptically polarized pulse with frequency ω and wave vector k collinear with k ₀. It is shown that for oriented atoms, μ(t′) is an even function of the detuning from resonance, ω-ω _ba, and can be split into two terms whose directions are a consequence of symmetry and are determined by the vectors k ₀ and k as well as by the direction of rotation of the electric fields corresponding to the pulses. For aligned atoms the vector μ(t′) is collinear with k, and the first term is an even function of ω-ω _ba. However, the second term is an odd function of ω-ω _ba and reverses direction when the sign of ω-ω _ba changes, as well as when the orientation of the axes of the polarization ellipse is changed. It is shown that if a series of weak linearly polarized pulses pass through the gas, the light-induced magnetization of the oriented and aligned gas atoms can be decomposed into three factors: the first determines the direction and is a consequence of the symmetry; the second (with the dimensions of magnetic moment) depends on the characteristics of the resonant transitions; and the third is a universal function of t′ and ω-ω _ba that does not depend on the underlying characteristics of the resonant transition. These vector factors and the universal functions are in principle different for oriented and aligned atoms. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 111, 63–92 (January 1997)     

Degenerate four-wave mixing based all-optical wavelength conversion in a semiconductor optical amplifier and highly-nonlinear photonic crystal fiber parametric loop mirror

The idler is separated from the co-propagating pump in a degenerate four-wave mixing (DFWM) with a symmetrical parametric loop mirror (PALM), which is composed of two identical SOAs and a 70 m highly-nonlinear photonic crystal fiber (HN-PCF). The signal and pump are coupled into the symmetrical PALM from different ports, respectively. After the DFWM based wavelength conversion (WC) in the clockwise and anticlockwise, the idler exits from the signal port, while the pump outputs from its input port. Therefore, the pump is effectively suppressed in the idler channel without a high-speed tunable filter. Contrast to a traditional PALM, the DFWM based conversion efficiency is increased greatly, and the functions of the amplification and the WC are integrated in the smart SOA and HN-PCF PALM.     

Non-collinear multi-wave mixing in a Doppler-broadened two-level medium

Received: 8 April 1998/Revised version: 3 June 1998