Ultrafast all-optical differentiators

Slavík, Radan, Park, Yongwoo, Kulishov, Mykola, Morandotti, Roberto and Azaña, José (2006) Ultrafast all-optical differentiators. Optics Express, 14 (22), 10699-10707. (doi:10.1364/OE.14.010699).

Abstract

We report the experimental realization of an ultrafast all-optical temporal differentiator. Differentiation is obtained via all-fiber filtering based on a simple diffraction grating-assisted mode coupler (uniform longperiod fiber grating) that performs full energy conversion at the optical carrier frequency. Due to its high bandwidth, this device allows processing of arbitrary optical signals with sub-picosecond temporal features (down to 180-fs with the specific realizations reported here). Functionality of this device was tested by differentiating a 700-fs Gaussian optical pulse generated from a fiber laser (@ 1535nm). The derivative of this pulse is an odd-symmetry Hermite-Gaussian waveform, consisting of two linked 500-fs-long, π-phase-shifted temporal lobes. This waveform is noteworthy for its application in advanced ultrahigh-speed optical communication systems.

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Contributors

Author: Radan Slavík

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