Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of front-end nonlinear optical crystals and a plurality of back-end nonlinear optical crystals. The front-end nonlinear optical crystals are arranged in a chain and are configured to amplify a received signal. The back-end nonlinear optical crystals are arranged in the chain after the front-end nonlinear optical crystals and are configured to further amplify the received signal and generate an amplified signal. The back-end nonlinear optical crystals are made from a different nonlinear optical crystal than the front-end nonlinear optical crystals.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of front-end nonlinear optical crystals and a plurality of back-end nonlinear optical crystals. The front-end nonlinear optical crystals are arranged in a chain and are configured to amplify a received signal. The back-end nonlinear optical crystals are arranged in the chain after the front-end nonlinear optical crystals and are configured to further amplify the received signal and generate an amplified signal. The back-end nonlinear optical crystals are made from a different nonlinear optical crystal than the front-end nonlinear optical crystals.

Abstract: A transmitter. In some embodiments, the transmitter has an electrical input and an optical output. The transmitter may include a light source; an optical amplitude modulator having an optical input connected to the light source, a modulation input connected to the electrical input, and an output; and a first gated optical comparator, having a sampling clock input, an analog input connected to the output of the optical amplitude modulator, and an output. The first gated optical comparator may be configured to generate, for each cycle of an optical sampling clock signal received at the sampling clock input, a one-bit digital representation of an analog optical signal received at the analog input.

Abstract: A transmitter. In some embodiments, the transmitter has an electrical input and an optical output. The transmitter may include a light source; an optical amplitude modulator having an optical input connected to the light source, a modulation input connected to the electrical input, and an output; and a first gated optical comparator, having a sampling clock input, an analog input connected to the output of the optical amplitude modulator, and an output. The first gated optical comparator may be configured to generate, for each cycle of an optical sampling clock signal received at the sampling clock input, a one-bit digital representation of an analog optical signal received at the analog input.

Abstract: The invention provides a pulse measurement apparatus and corresponding method. The apparatus comprises: a splitter for splitting a pulse to be measured into two sub-pulses propagating along different beam paths; a non-linear medium, capable of up-conversion of radiation propagating therethrough, arranged in said beam paths; at least one element for interfering the up-converted pulses resulting from propagation of the two sub-pulses in the non-linear medium; and detection apparatus for detecting the result of the interference to obtain at least one of spectral and temporal characteristics of the pulse to be measured.

Abstract: The invention provides a pulse measurement apparatus and corresponding method. The apparatus comprises: a splitter for splitting a pulse to be measured into two sub-pulses propagating along different beam paths; a non-linear medium, capable of up-conversion of radiation propagating therethrough, arranged in said beam paths; at least one element for interfering the up-converted pulses resulting from propagation of the two sub-pulses in the non-linear medium; and detection apparatus for detecting the result of the interference to obtain at least one of spectral and temporal characteristics of the pulse to be measured.