Multi-wavelength pulse generator using time-lens compression
First Claim
1. A method for generating a pulse train formed from sequences of spaced pulses comprising the steps of:
- generating an optical pulse train, said optical pulse train formed from N sequences of pulses, where N is an integer greater than or equal to two, each pulse in any of said sequences having a wavelength that is the same for all pulses in the same sequence but is different from a wavelength of any pulse in any other of said sequences;
overlaying said sequences of pulses in said optical pulse train;
phase modulating said pulse train to form a phase modulated pulse train; and
passing said phase modulated pulse train through a dispersion element, thereby compressing and temporally spacing said pulses from one another in said pulse train such that a repeating pattern of N evenly spaced pulses occurs in said pulse train, said pattern including one pulse from each of said N sequences.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for generating a multi-wavelength pulse train use a technique referred to as time-lens compression. The time-lens is formed of a phase modulator in series with a dispersion element. In addition to pulse compression, this time-lens simultaneously displaces the pulses according to their center wavelengths, resulting in a temporally evenly spaced multi-wavelength pulse train. An aberration correction technique, based on the temporal analog of a spatial correction lens, can also be employed improve the quality of the compressed pulses. Through use of CW DFB lasers and electrooptic phase modulators, the all-fiber system allows complete tunability of temporal spacing, spectral profile and repetition rate.
3 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for generating a pulse train formed from sequences of spaced pulses comprising the steps of:
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generating an optical pulse train, said optical pulse train formed from N sequences of pulses, where N is an integer greater than or equal to two, each pulse in any of said sequences having a wavelength that is the same for all pulses in the same sequence but is different from a wavelength of any pulse in any other of said sequences; overlaying said sequences of pulses in said optical pulse train; phase modulating said pulse train to form a phase modulated pulse train; and passing said phase modulated pulse train through a dispersion element, thereby compressing and temporally spacing said pulses from one another in said pulse train such that a repeating pattern of N evenly spaced pulses occurs in said pulse train, said pattern including one pulse from each of said N sequences. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for generating a pulse train having evenly-spaced compressed pulses of different wavelengths comprising:
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means of generating an optical pulse train containing at least N overlaying sequences of pulses, where N is an integer treater than equal two, each of said sequences containing only pulses of a single wavelength that is different from a wavelength of any pulse in any other of said sequences; a first phase modulator for imposing a quadratic phase on said optical pulse train; and a dispersion element in series with said phase modulator, said phase modulator and said dispersion element acting to compress said pulses and space said pulses evenly in time from one another so that a repeating pattern of N evenly spaced pulses occurs in said pulse train, said pattern including one pulse from each of said N sequences. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification