Tunable dispersion-tolerant picosecond flat-top waveform generation using an optical differentiator

Slavík, R., Park, Y. and Azaña, J. (2007) Tunable dispersion-tolerant picosecond flat-top waveform generation using an optical differentiator. Optics Express, 15 (11), 6717-6726. (doi:10.1364/OE.15.006717).

Record type: Article

Abstract

We study the influence of dispersive propagation on picosecond flat-top pulses, which are generated using long period fiber grating (LPG)based optical differentiators. We suggest an extremely simple scheme to compensate for the dispersion-induced flat-top pulse distortion; this scheme is based on proper tuning the LPG coupling strength. As this coupling strength may be changed via LPG axial straining, the demonstrated device can be tuned to compensate for different levels of the dispersion in a very easy and straightforward fashion. This allows for very fine flat-top pulse shape adjustment, even after propagation through a relatively long section of dispersive optical fiber. In the experimental demonstration reported here, the dispersion tolerance of 1.8-ps flat-top pulses propagating through a standard telecom fiber (SMF-28) was increased from ≈2 m to ≈ 18 m, giving a 9-fold improvement.

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