Abstract: A temporal imaging system is presented consisting of a dispersive input path, a phase modulator producing a phase modulation substantially equal to A+Bt.sup.2, and an output dispersive path. This temporal imaging system can be combined with other temporal lenses to image input signals in the same manner that spatial lenses can be used to image light from spatial sources. In particular, this temporal imaging system can be used to expand, compress and or invert input temporal signals.

Abstract: An optical time-domain reflectometry (OTDR) system comprises an oscillator, a phase shifter, an amplifier, an optical pulse generator, an integrated electro-optical circuit, a detector, a timer, a converter, and an output device. The OTDR system can be used to determine which surface of a photographic lens is impairing transmissivity the most. When the amplifier is enabled, a signal from the oscillator starts the timer and triggers the pulse generator. The timer is a time-to-digital circuit with analog interpolation. The resulting pulse is transmitted through the integrated electro-optical circuit and into the lens being evaluated. The strongest reflection from the lens is detected and the resulting detection signal stops the timer. The timed duration is expressed by the converter as a distance which can be used to identify the lens surface of interest. The result is displayed and/or stored on the output device.

Abstract: A sampler that can be used to sample optical or electrical signals, having an improved sensitivity-resolution product compared to conventional samplers. A coded switched electrode modulator has electrodes that produce polarity reversals in an applied voltage signal in accordance with a pseudorandom code having small sidelobes. An optical signal is injected into an optical waveguide that is oriented parallel to the electrodes. When the optical signal is proportional to the coded electrode pattern, the device is used as an electrical sampler. When the applied voltage signal is proportional to the coded electrode pattern, the device is used as an optical sampler.

Abstract: A pulse compressor compresses a relatively long width optical pulse (of the kind which may be transform limited) to a short width pulse. The compressor includes a color generator which broadens the bandwidth of the long pulse to include any additional colors required for compression to the short pulse. The compressor also includes a grating which has a groove spacing and which is aligned with the output of the color generator at a grazing incidence angle effective for producing a compact grating structure, reduced ellipticity of the beam output from the compressor and high efficiency of light transmission through the device.

Abstract: Non-contact measurement of signals up to and beyond 100 GHz is provided by electro-optical sampling the field in a transmission line. A first laser signal is employed to optically generate signals in a III-V compound semiconductor such as gallium arsenide. The signal is transmitted to microstrip on the semiconductor surface, and a second polarized laser signal is passed through the crystal and its polarization is modulated by the electric field in the microstrip. The polarization presents a measure of the field strength and hence the signal. By varying the relative delay between two beams, an equivalent time representation of the sampled signal is obtained.

Abstract: A fiber optic amplifier as disclosed, comprised of a fiber optic, monomode waveguide which has a core and cladding. Part of the cladding over a predetermined region is removed and replaced by an active medium capable of absorbing light energy at a first wavelength and emitting light energy at a second wavelength. The active medium is a lasing dye which has an index of refraction adjusted to be slightly less than the index of refraction of the fiber core. The amount of cladding which is removed is adjusted such that a predetermined amount of penetration of the evanescent field from a pump light signal coupled into an end of the fiber penetrates the active medium. A probe signal to be amplified causes stimulated emission from the excited dye molecules by penetration of its evanescent field into the dye in the region where the cladding is removed.In the preferred embodiment a recirculating pump is used to circulate dye through a cavity which is placed over the portion of the fiber where the cladding is removed.