Channel cloning by multi-mode phase-sensitive parametric mixer.

We investigate high fidelity channel replication approaching the idealized notion of channel cloning with negligible excess noise and distortion. Previously proposed cloning architectures require that the channel carriers to be externally seeded, limiting their ultimate usefulness, whereas the self-seeded approach limits the channel number and signal-to-noise ratio. Specifically, when a single channel is replicated, the noise figure (NF) remains above the well-known 3-dB limit, and multi-channel replication by a dual-pump driven parametric mixer faces a theoretical NF limit of 6-dB.

All optical wavelength multicaster and regenerator based on four-mode phase-sensitive parametric mixer.

Four-mode phase-sensitive (4MPS) process has been employed in a parametric mixer based wavelength multicaster, enhancing the multicasting conversion efficiency and signal-to-noise ratio. In addition, the 4MPS parametric multicaster is an outstanding candidate for all-optical regeneration, owing to its inherent capabilities to clamp amplitude fluctuations by the saturated parametric effect and to squeeze phase distortions by the phase sensitive process. The investigation in this paper focuses on the 4MPS multicaster operated in the saturation gain regime, including theoretical simulations and experimental demonstrations on amplitude and phase noise regeneration over 20 multicasting signal copies.

Resonant reflection spectroscopy of biomolecular arrays in muscle.

Sarcomeres, the functional units of contraction in striated muscle, are composed of an array of interdigitating protein filaments. Direct interaction between overlapping filaments generates muscular force, which produces animal movement. When filament length is known, sarcomere length successfully predicts potential force, even in whole muscles that contain billions of sarcomere units.

All-optical switching in a highly efficient parametric fiber mixer: design study.

Ultrafast all-optical switching in a highly nonlinear fiber with a longitudinally varied zero-dispersion wavelength was investigated theoretically and experimentally. We describe fiber-matched methodology for construction of a fast, low energy photon switch. The design relies on static and dynamic models and allows performance target selection, under constraints of physical fiber characteristic.

Digital multi-channel stabilization of four-mode phase-sensitive parametric multicasting.

Stable four-mode phase-sensitive (4MPS) process was investigated as a means to enhance two-pump driven parametric multicasting conversion efficiency (CE) and signal to noise ratio (SNR). Instability of multi-beam, phase sensitive (PS) device that inherently behaves as an interferometer, with output subject to ambient induced fluctuations, was addressed theoretically and experimentally. A new stabilization technique that controls phases of three input waves of the 4MPS multicaster and maximizes CE was developed and described.

Low-noise parametric frequency comb for continuous C-plus-L-band 16-QAM channels generation.

A low phase noise frequency comb generated from a continuous-wave seed is experimentally demonstrated across continuous C- and L-bands. Parametrically generated carriers with optical signal-to-noise ratio in excess of 45 dB were used to generate 16-ary quadrature amplitude modulated signals. We characterize 20 GBaud channels' performance that was varied by only 1.

Noise performance of phase-insensitive frequency multicasting in parametric mixer with finite dispersion.

Noise performance of dual-pump, multi-sideband parametric mixer operated in phase-insensitive mode is investigated theoretically and experimentally. It is shown that, in case when a large number of multicasting idlers are generated, the noise performance is strictly dictated by the dispersion characteristics of the mixer. We find that the sideband noise performance is significantly degraded in anomalous dispersion region permitting nonlinear noise amplification.

Noise performance of phase-insensitive multicasting in multi-stage parametric mixers.

Noise properties of large-count spectral multicasting in a phase-insensitive parametric mixer were investigated. Scalable multicasting was achieved using two-tone continuous-wave seeded mixers capable of generating more than 20 frequency non-degenerate copies. The mixer was constructed using a multistage architecture to simultaneously manage high Figure-of-Merit frequency generation and suppress noise generation.

Pump noise cancellation in parametric wavelength converters.

A novel technique for pump noise effect mitigation in parametric wavelength converters is introduced. The method relies on digital signal processing and effectively takes advantage of the correlation property between the pump and idler, imposed by the parametric interaction. A 4 dB improvement in receiver performance is demonstrated experimentally for the conventional 10 Gbps OOK signal converted over 20 nm.

Photonic preprocessor for analog-to-digital-converter using a cavity-less pulse source.

A photonic preprocessor for analog to digital conversion is demonstrated and characterized using a cavity-less optical pulse source. The pulse source generates high fidelity pulses at 2 GHz repetition rate with temporal width of 3 ps. Chirped pulses are formed by cascaded amplitude and phase modulators, and subsequently compressed in dispersion compensating fiber.

Full characterization of self-phase-modulation based low-noise, cavity-less pulse source for photonic-assisted analog-to-digital conversion.

A high quality cavity-less pulse source, realized as a combination of linear pulse compression and self-phase-modulation (SPM) based regeneration is demonstrated and strictly characterized for the first time. The regenerated pulses, with 3.6 GHz repetition rate, are optimized through rigorous relative intensity-noise (RIN) measurement.

Broadband parametric multicasting via four-mode phase-sensitive interaction.

Optical frequency multicasting with significantly enhanced signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) is demonstrated over wide wavelength range. High-fidelity multicasting relies on a four-mode phase-sensitive (PS) parametric process. Four-mode seeding was used to drive dual-pump, multistage mixer and achieve high-efficiency frequency comb generation and signal replication assisted by field interference.

Spectral linewidth preservation in parametric frequency combs seeded by dual pumps.

We demonstrate new technique for generation of programmable-pitch, wideband frequency combs with low phase noise. The comb generation was achieved using cavity-less, multistage mixer driven by two tunable continuous-wave pump seeds. The approach relies on phase-correlated continuous-wave pumps in order to cancel spectral linewidth broadening inherent to parametric comb generation.

Generation of wideband frequency combs by continuous-wave seeding of multistage mixers with synthesized dispersion.

We numerically and experimentally demonstrate efficient generation of an equalized optical comb with 150-nm bandwidth. The comb was generated by low-power, continuous-wave seeds, eliminating the need for pulsed laser sources. The new architecture relies on efficient creation of higher-order mixing tones in phase-matched nonlinear fiber stages separated by a linear compressor.

1.56-micros continuously tunable parametric delay line for a 40-Gb/s signal.

Experimental demonstration of an all-fiber, all-optical continuously tunable delay line is reported. The 1.56-micros delay with a record 62,400 time-delay bit-rate product was characterized for a 40-Gbps data channel.

2-Dimensional beamsteering using dispersive deflectors and wavelength tuning.

We introduce a 2D beamscanner which is controlled by wavelength tuning. Two passive dispersive devices are aligned orthogonally to deflect the optical beam in two dimensions. We provide a proof of principle demonstration by combining an arrayed waveguide grating with a free space optical grating and using various input sources to characterize the beamscanner.