All-optical parallel-to-serial conversion by holographic spatial-to-temporal frequency encoding

Effects of non-exciton components excited by broadband pulses on quantum beats in a GaAs/AlAs multiple quantum well

In this study, we report the effect of the excitation of non-exciton components caused by broadband pulses on quantum beat oscillation. Using a spectrally controlled pump pulse, a long-lived oscillation is clearly observed, and the pump-power dependence shows the suppression of the dephasing rate of the oscillation. Our results from incoherent carrier generation using a continuous wave laser demonstrate that the non-exciton components behaving as free carriers increase the oscillation dephasing rate.

Spatial phase information transmission through an optical fiber by coherence function synthesis

Transmission of one-dimensional spatial phase information by low-coherence light through a single-mode optical fiber is experimentally demonstrated by use of space-time conversion at a 4-f Fourier coherence function shaper and time-space conversion with spectral holography. The dispersion during the fiber propagation can be automatically compensated for with spectral holography. However, space-time coupling caused by the transmitter limits the capacity of information transmittable with one coherence function shaping. A significant advantage in the space-time-space conversion with low-coherence light is that an infinite number of signal channels can be multiplexed with a newly invented delay-time division scheme, which can extend this analog transmission to two-dimensional spatial phase patterns.

Two-Dimensional Image Transmission Based on the Ultrafast Optical Data Format Conversion between a Temporal Signal and a Two-Dimensional Spatial Signal

We have experimentally demonstrated a two-dimensional (2-D) image transmission based on the ultrafast optical data format conversion between a temporal signal and a spatial signal with an ultrashort optical pulse. In the proposed system we adopt a spectral holography technique to transmit a one-dimensional (1-D) spatial signal and use a spatial-domain time-frequency transform to realize a transform between 1-D and 2-D spatial signals. By use of these techniques, a low-optical-loss transmission system can be constructed. To demonstrate a 2-D image transmission with this technique, we achieved experimentally transmission of the alphabet letter T as a 3 x 3 pixel 2-D spatial image.

Fundamental functions for ultrafast optical routing by temporal frequency-to-space conversion

We demonstrate fundamental functions for ultrafast optical routing by using an elemental part of an ultrafast optical technique for conversion of time to two-dimensional space. A preliminary experimental result shows that recognition of header signals can be achieved at a rate of more than 600 Gbytes/s.

Spatiotemporal control of ultrashort optical pulses by refractive-diffractive-dispersive structured optical elements

Structured optical elements that control the spatial and temporal characteristics of femtosecond light pulses are analyzed and synthesized. We show that unique spatiotemporal effects can be attained based on the diffraction, refraction, and dispersive effects that appear in the femtosecond regime. We argue that the design requirements for ultrafast optics are beyond the achromatization considerations that are usually applied to incoherent illumination because of the need to consider coherent effects. Despite fundamental limitations in the space-time control of ultrashort pulses, we show the potential of this technique to improve simultaneously the spatial and the temporal resolution of a lens and to generate ultrafast pulse sequences.

Secure ultrafast communication with spatial-temporal converters

An encrypted database interfaced with an ultrafast secure data communication system using spatial-temporal converters is proposed. The original spatial signal is optically encrypted, and the encrypted signal is holographically stored in a storage medium such as photorefractive materials. The spatially encrypted signal is sampled to avoid the overlap of each datum at the receiver. The sampled data are converted into a temporal signal to transmit the information through an optical fiber. At the receiver the temporal signal is converted back into the spatially encrypted signal. Retrieval of the original data can be achieved when the correct phase key is used in the decryption system. We developed an expression for encrypted output and decrypted data. We numerically evaluate the effect of sampling the spatially encrypted signal on the quality of the decrypted data.

Low-coherence interferometry with synthesis of coherence function

Synthesis of a coherence function by manipulation of the spectral phase of low-coherent light with a segmented liquid-crystal phase modulator and its application in a low-coherence interferometry are described. Effects of space-time coupling caused at diffractive gratings and second-order dispersion at the spatial light modulator on the coherence function synthesis are theoretically and experimentally verified. Various coherence functions can be shaped with phase-only masks designed by simulated annealing optimization algorithm. We utilized this technique for a novel optical low-coherence reflectometry without any mechanical movement for scanning optical delay.

Femtosecond single-shot correlation system: a time-domain approach

We introduce, analyze, and experimentally demonstrate what to the best of our knowledge is a new pulse correlation technique that is capable of real-time conversion of a femtosecond pulse sequence into its spatial image. Our technique uses a grating at the entrance of the system, thus introducing a transverse time delay (TTD) into the transform-limited reference pulse. The shaped signal pulses and the TTD reference pulse are mixed in a nonlinear optical crystal (LiB(3)O(5)), thus producing a second-harmonic field that carries the spatial image of the temporal shaped signal pulse. We show that the time scaling of the system is set by the magnification of the anamorphic imaging system as well as by the grating frequency and that the time window of the system is set by the size of the grating aperture. Our experimental results show a time window of approximately 20 ps. We also show that the chirp information of the shaped pulse can be recovered by measurement of the spectrum of the resulting second-harmonic field.

Spatial temporal wave mixing for space time conversion

A nonlinear optical processor that is capable of true real-time conversion of spatial-domain images to ultrafast time-domain optical waveforms is presented. The method is based on four-wave mixing between the optical waves of spectrally decomposed ultrashort pulses and spatially Fourier-transformed quasi-monochromatic images. To achieve efficient wave mixing at a femtosecond rate we utilize a cascaded second-order nonlinearity arrangement in a beta-barium borate crystal with type II phase matching. We use this ultrafast technique to experimentally generate several complex-amplitude temporal waveforms, with efficiency as high as 10%, by virtue of the cascaded nonlinearity arrangement.

Electronic channel fringe holography for depth and delay measurements

Electronic spectral holography in the form developed by Shih [Ph.D. dissertation, University Microfilms, Ann Arbor, Mich. (1995)] is adapted to various applications, including optical coherence tomography in scattering media, contouring of surfaces, and optical fiber mode examination.

Analysis of spatial-temporal converters for all-optical communication links

We analyze parallel-to-serial transmitters and serial-to-parallel receivers that use ultrashort optical pulses to increase the bandwidth of a fiber-optic communication link. This method relies on real-time holographic material for conversion of information between spatial and temporal frequencies. The analysis reveals that the temporal output of the pulses will consist of chirped pulses, which has been verified experimentally. When the signal pulses are transmitted along with a reference pulse, the distortions of the received signal, caused by dispersion and other factors in the fiber, are canceled because of the phase-conjugation property of the receiver. This self-referencing scheme simplifies the receiver structure and ensures perfect timing for the serial-to-parallel conversion.

Real-time one-dimensional coherent imaging through single-mode fibers by space time conversion processors

We introduce and experimentally demonstrate a novel technique for one-dimensional coherent imaging through a single-mode optical fiber by use of a pulse shaper and a pulse imager. In contrast to the wavelength-division-multiplexed encoding technique, our approach preserves both amplitude and phase information of the optical signal transmitted through the fiber, allowing one to encode longitudinal in addition to transverse optical information. The effect of the fiber-material dispersion on our imaging technique is analyzed, and potential solutions are discussed.