Abstract: Techniques for monitoring frequency-dependent parameter and optical property such as optical dispersion in a modulated optical signal with sidebands based on optical vestigial sideband filtering. Monitoring implementations for both chromatic dispersion and polarization-mode dispersion are described as examples.

Abstract: Techniques, devices, and systems for generating tunable dispersions to control or compensate for dispersions in optical signals by using wave-guiding grating elements with nonlinear group delays.

Abstract: Techniques and devices for emulating polarization-mode dispersion in an optical signal that transmits through an optical fiber by using multiple birefringent wave-guiding sections that are interconnected to have adjustable polarization-changing connectors. The polarization of light transmitting from one section to another adjacent section can be modified differently between different adjacent sections according to a distribution function to produce one PMD state to represent one possible PMD state of a real PMD fiber. The connectors can be adjusted to produce different sets of polarization modifications to produce different PMD states to represent different possible PMD states of the real PMD fiber.

Abstract: Wideband optical amplifiers that use two parallel amplifiers in different operating spectral ranges and two different or identical sampled Bragg gratings as the channel splitter and combiner.

Abstract: Techniques for monitoring polarization-mode dispersion in a fiber span and location such fiber span in a fiber system based on the stimulated Brillouin scattering process.

Abstract: Techniques for using a nonlinearly-chirped fiber Bragg grating to produce tunable dispersion-slope compensation.

Abstract: Techniques and devices based on a wave-guiding element which has a spatial grating pattern that is an oscillatory variation along its optic axis. The wave-guiding element is configured to receive an input optical signal and to produce an output optical signal by reflection within a Bragg reflection band produced by the spatial grating pattern so as to produce time delays of different reflected spectral components as a nonlinear function of spatial positions along said optic axis at which the different reflected spectral components are respectively reflected. Such a wave-guiding element may be a nonlinearly chirped fiber grating A control unit may be engaged to the wave-guiding element and is operable to change a property of the spatial grating pattern along the optic axis to tune at least relative time delays of the different reflected spectral components nonlinearly with respect to wavelength.

Abstract: Techniques for monitoring polarization-mode dispersion in a fiber span and location such fiber span in a fiber system based on the stimulated Brillouin scattering process.

Abstract: Techniques and devices for compensating polarization-mode dispersion in an optical signal by using a nonlinearly-chirped Bragg grating in a dual-pass configuration.

Abstract: Techniques and devices for compensating dispersion-induced power fading in a double-sideband optical signal based on a tunable optical dispersion element.

Abstract: Techniques and devices for compensating polarization-mode dispersion in an optical signal by using a nonlinearly-chirped Bragg grating in a dual-pass configuration.

Abstract: Techniques for compensating for PMD in multiple WDM channels by processing all WDM channels in the same manner without demultpliexing the channels. A feedback control is provided to decrease the worst-case power penalty and the channel fading probability by optimizing over the entire group of WDM channels.

Abstract: A nonlinearly chirped fiber grating for achieving tunable dispersion compensation, dispersion slope compensation, polarization mode dispersion, chirp reduction in directly modulated diode lasers, and optical pulse manipulation. A dynamical dispersion compensation mechanism can be implemented in a fiber communication system based on such a nonlinearly chirped fiber grating.

Abstract: Techniques for using a nonlinearly-chirped fiber Bragg grating to produce tunable dispersion-slope compensation.

Abstract: Techniques and devices for providing reconfigurable and variable-bit-rate optical header recognition for an optical switch.

Abstract: Techniques and devices for compensating dispersion-induced power fading in a double-sideband optical signal based on a tunable optical dispersion element.

Abstract: Techniques and devices for emulating polarization-mode dispersion in an optical signal that transmits through an optical fiber by using multiple birefringent wave-guiding sections that are interconnected to have adjustable polarization-changing connectors. The polarization of light transmitting from one section to another adjacent section can be modified differently between different adjacent sections according to a distribution function to produce one PMD state to represent one possible PMD state of a real PMD fiber. The connectors can be adjusted to produce different sets of polarization modifications to produce different PMD states to represent different possible PMD states of the real PMD fiber.

Abstract: Techniques and devices based on a wave-guiding element which has a spatial grating pattern that is an oscillatory variation along its optic axis. The wave-guiding element is configured to receive an input optical signal and to produce an output optical signal by reflection within a Bragg reflection band produced by the spatial grating pattern so as to produce time delays of different reflected spectral components as a nonlinear function of spatial positions along said optic axis at which the different reflected spectral components are respectively reflected. Such a wave-guiding element may be a nonlinearly chirped fiber grating A control unit may be engaged to the wave-guiding element and is operable to change a property of the spatial grating pattern along the optic axis to tune at least relative time delays of the different reflected spectral components nonlinearly with respect to wavelength.

Abstract: A wavelength division multiplexer integrating a dispersive element having a gradient refractive index with optical lenses to provide efficient coupling from a plurality of input optical fibers (each delivering a plurality of discrete wavelengths to the device) which are multiplexed to a single polychromatic beam for output to a single output optical fiber.

Abstract: Optical communication apparatus for simultaneously and reconfigurably establishing optical communication channels, comprises at least one light source and a plurality of wavelength-selective detectors optically associated with each light source, the detectors arranged one behind another. The apparatus uses wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) to facilitate simultaneous and reconfigurable communication of one-to-many 2-D optical planes. This advance dramatically increases the system functionality of optical-plane interconnects. Such a system is realized by incorporating several multiple wavelength vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSEL) into each transmitting pixel and incorporating wavelength selectivity into each subsequent detecting plane which will absorb one wavelength and be transparent to the rest; these structures can be fabricated by slightly modifying existing technology.