Abstract: Techniques, systems, and devices are disclosed to provide on-chip integrated gas sensor based on photonic sensing. For example, a sensing device is provided to include an optical comb generator that produces an optical comb of different optical comb frequencies in a mid-infrared (MIR) spectral range to interact with a sample under detection, the optical comb generator including a substrate, an optical resonator formed on the substrate and an optical waveguide formed on the substrate and coupled to the optical resonator, and an optical detector that detects light from the sample at the different optical comb frequencies.

Abstract: The disclosed technology, in one aspect, includes an optical comb generator device which includes a laser cavity that includes an optical gain material to provide an optical gain and an optical path to allow laser light to circulate inside the laser cavity; and a high-Q resonator optically coupled in the optical path inside the laser cavity so that the laser light generated and sustained inside the laser cavity is in optical resonance with the high-Q resonator to cause laser light stored inside the high-Q resonator to have an optical intensity above a four wave mixing threshold of the high-Q resonator to cause parametric four wave mixing so as to produce an optical comb of different optical frequencies.

Abstract: The disclosed technology, in one aspect, includes an optical comb generator device which includes a laser cavity that includes an optical gain material to provide an optical gain and an optical path to allow laser light to circulate inside the laser cavity; and a high-Q resonator optically coupled in the optical path inside the laser cavity so that the laser light generated and sustained inside the laser cavity is in optical resonance with the high-Q resonator to cause laser light stored inside the high-Q resonator to have an optical intensity above a four wave mixing threshold of the high-Q resonator to cause parametric four wave mixing so as to pro duce an optical comb of different optical frequencies.

Abstract: There is set forth in one embodiment an apparatus and method for imparting a phase shift to an input waveform for output of a converted waveform. In one embodiment, a phase shift can be provided by four wave mixing of an input waveform and a pump pulse. In one embodiment, there is set forth an apparatus and method for generating a high resolution time domain representation of an input waveform comprising: dispersing the input waveform to generate a dispersed input waveform; subjecting the dispersed input waveform to four wave mixing by combining the dispersed input waveform with a dispersed pump pulse to generate a converted waveform; and presenting the converted waveform to a detector unit. In one embodiment a detector unit can include a spectrometer (spectrum analyzer) for recording of the converted waveform and output of a record representing the input waveform.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for ultrafast optical waveform sampling based on temporal stretching of an input signal waveform. Temporal stretching is performed using a time lens based on four-wave mixing in a nonlinear medium. The signal is passed through an input dispersive element. The dispersed signal is sent into the time lens, which comprises a chirped pump pulse and a nonlinear medium. The chirped pump pulse is combined with the signal. The four-wave mixing process occurs in the nonlinear device or medium, which results in the generation of a signal at a new optical frequency (idler). The idler is spectrally separated from the signal and pump pulse using a bandpass filter and sent into an output dispersive element. The output dispersive element is longer than the input dispersive element and the temporal stretching factor is given by the ratio between the dispersions of these two elements.

Abstract: Techniques, systems, and devices are disclosed to provide on-chip integrated gas sensor based on photonic sensing. For example, a sensing device is provided to include an optical comb generator that produces an optical comb of different optical comb frequencies in a mid-infrared (MIR) spectral range to interact with a sample under detection, the optical comb generator including a substrate, an optical resonator formed on the substrate and an optical waveguide formed on the substrate and coupled to the optical resonator, and an optical detector that detects light from the sample at the different optical comb frequencies.

Abstract: There is set forth in one embodiment an apparatus and method for imparting a phase shift to an input waveform for output of a converted waveform. In one embodiment, a phase shift can be provided by four wave mixing of an input waveform and a pump pulse. In one embodiment, there is set forth an apparatus and method for generating a high resolution time domain representation of an input waveform comprising: dispersing the input waveform to generate a dispersed input waveform; subjecting the dispersed input waveform to four wave mixing by combining the dispersed input waveform with a dispersed pump pulse to generate a converted waveform; and presenting the converted waveform to a detector unit. In one embodiment a detector unit can include a spectrometer (spectrum analyzer) for recording of the converted waveform and output of a record representing the input waveform.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for adjusting intensity, wavelength and higher and lower frequency components of an optical signal. Photonic apparatus receives a first and a second optical signal. A waveguide provides an anomalous group velocity dispersion the first optical signal or the second optical signal and adjusts intensity or wavelength of the first optical signal or the second optical signal, in response to the anomalous group velocity dispersion. In some embodiments photonic apparatus receives an optical signal comprising a lower frequency component received an amount of time prior to a higher frequency component of the optical signal. A waveguide provides an anomalous group velocity dispersion for the optical signal and adjusts the amount of time between the higher frequency component and the lower frequency component in response to the anomalous group velocity dispersion.

Abstract: There is set forth in one embodiment an apparatus and method for imparting a phase shift to an input waveform for output of a converted waveform. In one embodiment, a phase shift can be provided by four wave mixing of an input waveform and a pump pulse. In one embodiment, there is set forth an apparatus and method for generating a high resolution time domain representation of an input waveform comprising: dispersing the input waveform to generate a dispersed input waveform; subjecting the dispersed input waveform to four wave mixing by combining the dispersed input waveform with a dispersed pump pulse to generate a converted waveform; and presenting the converted waveform to a detector unit. In one embodiment a detector unit can include a spectrometer (spectrum analyzer) for recording of the converted waveform and output of a record representing the input waveform.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for ultrafast optical waveform sampling based on temporal stretching of an input signal waveform. Temporal stretching is performed using a time lens based on four-wave mixing in a nonlinear medium. The signal is passed through an input dispersive element. The dispersed signal is sent into the time lens, which comprises a chirped pump pulse and a nonlinear medium. The chirped pump pulse is combined with the signal. The four-wave mixing process occurs in the nonlinear device or medium, which results in the generation of a signal at a new optical frequency (idler). The idler is spectrally separated from the signal and pump pulse using a bandpass filter and sent into an output dispersive element. The output dis persive element is longer than the input dispersive element and the temporal stretching factor is given by the ratio between the dispersions of these two elements.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for adjusting intensity, wavelength and higher and lower frequency components of an optical signal. Photonic apparatus receives a first and a second optical signal. A waveguide provides an anomalous group velocity dispersion the first optical signal or the second optical signal and adjusts intensity or wavelength of the first optical signal or the second optical signal, in response to the anomalous group velocity dispersion. In some embodiments photonic apparatus receives an optical signal comprising a lower frequency component received an amount of time prior to a higher frequency component of the optical signal. A waveguide provides an anomalous group velocity dispersion for the optical signal and adjusts the amount of time between the higher frequency component and the lower frequency component in response to the anomalous group velocity dispersion.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for adjusting intensity, wavelength and higher and lower frequency components of an optical signal. Photonic apparatus receives a first and a second optical signal. A waveguide provides an anomalous group velocity dispersion the first optical signal or the second optical signal and adjusts intensity or wavelength of the first optical signal or the second optical signal, in response to the anomalous group velocity dispersion. In some embodiments photonic apparatus receives an optical signal comprising a lower frequency component received an amount of time prior to a higher frequency component of the optical signal. A waveguide provides an anomalous group velocity dispersion for the optical signal and adjusts the amount of time between the higher frequency component and the lower frequency component in response to the anomalous group velocity dispersion.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods, systems, and apparatus of improved fiber-based optical parametric oscillators (FOPOs). These oscillators can be used in the creation of short pulsed laser radiation, which are useful in numerous applications, such as characterization of materials and molecules. A relationship between fiber length and performance is realized, where shorter lengths counterintuitively provide greater power and width of output bands. This relationship is used to develop improved FOPOs. For example, fibers of 10 cm or less may be used to obtain superior performance in terms of wavelength tunability (e.g. bandwidth of 200 nm and greater) and output power (e.g. pulse power of 1 nJ). Other realized relationships between length and wavelength position of output bands are also used to select the wavelength range output from the FOPO. The diameter of the fiber may be selected to provide positioning (e.g. a centering) of the range of attainable output wavelengths.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods, systems, and apparatus of improved fiber-based optical parametric oscillators (FOPOs). These oscillators can be used in the creation of short pulsed laser radiation, which are useful in numerous applications, such as characterization of materials and molecules. A relationship between fiber length and performance is realized, where shorter lengths counterintuitively provide greater power and width of output bands. This relationship is used to develop improved FOPOs. For example, fibers of 10 cm or less may be used to obtain superior performance in terms of wavelength tunability (e.g. bandwidth of 200 nm and greater) and output power (e.g. pulse power of 1 nJ). Other realized relationships between length and wavelength position of output bands are also used to select the wavelength range output from the FOPO. The diameter of the fiber may be selected to provide positioning (e.g. a centering) of the range of attainable output wavelengths.

Abstract: A technique for generating variable pulse delays uses one or more nonlinear-optical processes such as cross-phase modulation, cross-gain modulation, self-phase modulation, four-wave mixing or parametric mixing, combined with group-velocity dispersion. The delay is controllable by changing the wavelength and/or power of a control laser. The delay is generated by introducing a controllable wavelength shift to a pulse of light, propagating the pulse through a material or an optical component that generates a wavelength dependent time delay, and wavelength shifting again to return the pulse to its original wavelength.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for adjusting intensity, wavelength and higher and lower frequency components of an optical signal. Photonic apparatus receives a first and a second optical signal. A waveguide provides an anomalous group velocity dispersion the first optical signal or the second optical signal and adjusts intensity or wavelength of the first optical signal or the second optical signal, in response to the anomalous group velocity dispersion. In some embodiments photonic apparatus receives an optical signal comprising a lower frequency component received an amount of time prior to a higher frequency component of the optical signal. A waveguide provides an anomalous group velocity dispersion for the optical signal and adjusts the amount of time between the higher frequency component and the lower frequency component in response to the anomalous group velocity dispersion.

Abstract: A technique for generating variable pulse delays uses one or more nonlinear-optical processes such as cross-phase modulation, cross-gain modulation, self-phase modulation, four-wave mixing or parametric mixing, combined with group-velocity dispersion. The delay is controllable by changing the wavelength and/or power of a control laser. The delay is generated by introducing a controllable wavelength shift to a pulse of light, propagating the pulse through a material or an optical component that generates a wavelength dependent time delay, and wavelength shifting again to return the pulse to its original wavelength.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of applying radiation through an optical fiber for detecting disease within a plant or animal or other penetrable tissue, or imaging a particular tissue of a plant or animal. In addition, fluorescence and nonlinear scattering signals can be detected and localized within a subject by such application of radiation through an optical fiber. The radiation is effective to promote simultaneous multiphoton excitation. The optical fibers are used alone to examine internal regions of tissue, in conjunction with an optical biopsy needle to evaluate sub-surface tissue, or with an endoscope to evaluate tissue within body cavities. The present invention also relates to a device for coupling in radiation from an ultrashort mode-locked laser into the beam path of a microscope.