Efficiency improvement of optical pattern recognition in ultra-fast all-optical intensity equalizer

To cope with a larger intensity fluctuation of optical signals in optical communication networks, we have proposed and demonstrated an ultra-fast all-optical intensity equalizer based on an optical pattern recognition technique. To achieve higher transfer efficiency for this equalizer, we designed and fabricated a highly-efficient optical amplitude-phase filter using a diffractive optical element for optical pattern recognition. The fabricated amplitude-phase filter provides a diffraction efficiency of 85%, and the all-optical intensity equalizer is demonstrated to have higher transfer efficiency, when this filter is used.