Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for generating Kerr frequency combs. The system includes a continuous-wave pump laser to provide a master comb pump. The system includes a microresonator that generates a master Kerr frequency comb using the master comb pump. The system includes a splitter that splits the master Kerr frequency comb into multiple CW comb lines including a first comb line used to transmit a data signal and a second comb line used as a slave comb pump. The system includes a combiner that is configured to combine the first comb line and the second comb line to produce a combination of a data channel and CW comb line. The system includes a second demultiplexer that extracts the second comb line that is used as the slave comb pump. The system includes another microresonator that uses the second comb line and generates a slave Kerr frequency comb.

Abstract: A system for structuring a directed energy beam includes one or more coherent light sources that emit one or more initial light beams, one or more spatial light modulators that modulate the one or more initial light beams, and a beam combiner that coherently adds orbital angular momentum beams to create a reconfigurable spatial region of localized power that forms the directed energy beam. Each spatial light modulator is loaded with a pattern that receives an incident light beam and outputs an orbital angular momentum beam. The pattern encodes one or more orthogonal orbital angular momentum functions. Characteristically, each orbital angular momentum having an associated complex weight with which each orbital angular momentum beam is weighted in forming the coherent addition.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for generating Kerr frequency combs. The system includes a continuous-wave pump laser to provide a master comb pump. The system includes a microresonator that generates a master Kerr frequency comb using the master comb pump. The system includes a splitter that splits the master Kerr frequency comb into multiple CW comb lines including a first comb line used to transmit a data signal and a second comb line used as a slave comb pump. The system includes a combiner that is configured to combine the first comb line and the second comb line to produce a combination of a data channel and CW comb line. The system includes a second demultiplexer that extracts the second comb line that is used as the slave comb pump. The system includes another microresonator that uses the second comb line and generates a slave Kerr frequency comb.

Abstract: A data storage system is disclosed that includes a recirculating loop storing data in motion. The data may be carried by a signal via the loop including one or more satellites or other vessels that return, for example by reflection or regeneration, the signals through the loop. The loop may also include a waveguide, for example an optical fiber, or an optical cavity. Signal multiplexing may be used to increase the contained data. The signal may be amplified at each roundtrip and sometimes a portion of the signal may be regenerated.

Abstract: A method for transmitting an optical signal through a first channel and a second channel includes coupling the optical signal with a first pair of comb lines separated by a spacing frequency to create an optical signal copy that is spaced from the optical signal by the spacing frequency. The method also includes filtering a first slice of the optical signal and a second slice of the optical signal copy. The method also includes transmitting the first slice of the optical signal and the second slice of the optical signal through the first channel and the second channel, respectively. The method also includes stitching the first slice of the optical signal with the second slice of the optical signal copy to generate a stitched version of the original optical signal.

Abstract: A system for structuring a directed energy beam includes one or more coherent light sources that emit one or more initial light beams, one or more spatial light modulators that modulate the one or more initial light beams, and a beam combiner that coherently adds orbital angular momentum beams to create a reconfigurable spatial region of localized power that forms the directed energy beam. Each spatial light modulator is loaded with a pattern that receives an incident light beam and outputs an orbital angular momentum beam. The pattern encodes one or more orthogonal orbital angular momentum functions. Characteristically, each orbital angular momentum having an associated complex weight with which each orbital angular momentum beam is weighted in forming the coherent addition.

Abstract: A method for transmitting an optical signal through a first channel and a second channel includes coupling the optical signal with a first pair of comb lines separated by a spacing frequency to create an optical signal copy that is spaced from the optical signal by the spacing frequency. The method also includes filtering a first slice of the optical signal and a second slice of the optical signal copy. The method also includes transmitting the first slice of the optical signal and the second slice of the optical signal through the first channel and the second channel, respectively. The method also includes stitching the first slice of the optical signal with the second slice of the optical signal copy to generate a stitched version of the original optical signal.

Abstract: A multi-wavelength optical signal copropagates through a fiber-optic communication link with a continuous-wave ancillary wavelength having an unknown state of polarization (SOP), which is scrambled periodically in time. The instantaneous value of polarization dependent loss (PDL) in the ancillary wavelength is monitored in real time, and is used as an error signal to adjust at least one polarization controller. Polarization scrambling is performed by periodically changing the SOP with time, such that the polarization-scrambled optical signal covers approximately an entire Poincaré sphere surface, preferably uniformly, during each time period. At an optical node between fibers, an adjustable PDL compensator contains two ordered pairs each consisting of one polarization controller and one optical element introducing fixed PDL.

Abstract: Autocorrelation technique for measurement of width of optical short pulses based on polarization effects. The optical pulse is split into two orthogonal polarization states and these two replicas have a relative delay which depolarizes the pulse. By tuning the relative delay of the two replicas and measuring the degree-of-polarization (DOP) of the pulse or the induced polarimetric four-wave mixing (FWM) through nonlinear media, the pulse's temporal width can be accurately derived. The technique can be all-fiber-based, wavelength independent, cost effective, applicable to low optical power, and does not require significant optical alignment.

Abstract: An optical code division multiple access (OCDMA) system includes an optical transmitter system configured to transmit data from a plurality of users through a shared optical channel by encoding the data from each user with a spreading code assigned to that user. Each spreading code includes a unique sequence of T time chips along a time axis. The data from each user is representable by T symbols. The OCDMA system further includes an optical receiver system configured to demodulate the data from each user by correlating signals received from the transmitter system with the spreading code assigned to that user. When transmitting a data symbol for each user, the transmitter system selects one out of T distinct cyclic shifts of the spreading code assigned to that user, and transmits the selected cyclic shift of the assigned spreading code along the time axis.

Abstract: A technique for detecting the status of wavelength division multiplexed optical signals is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the technique is realized by first splitting an original, multiplexed, polychromatic optical beam into at least two representative, multiplexed, polychromatic optical beams. Next, a first of the at least two representative, multiplexed, polychromatic optical beams is separated according to wavelength into a plurality of optical signal channels, wherein each of the plurality of optical signal channels are for communicating a respective, representative optical signal via a respective, representative, discrete, monochromatic optical beam. Finally, the presence or absence of a representative optical signal is detected on each of the plurality of optical signal channels.