Abstract: A tunable optical comb generator having a source laser configured to generate a continuous wave (CW) light at a first wavelength; and a microresonator coupled to the source laser and configured to receive the CW light and generate an optical signal having a plurality of output wavelengths corresponding to the first wavelength. The generator includes a microresonator tuning device coupled to the microresonator and configured to tune the microresonator to compensate the microresonator for wavelength shifts. A control circuit is coupled to the microresonator tuning device and configured to generate a control signal to control the microresonator tuning device based on the optical signal. Multiple microresonators in the form of microrings may be included to tune the generator. A heater coupled to the microresonators may be used to adjust the microresonators.

Abstract: A tunable optical comb generator having a source laser configured to generate a continuous wave (CW) light at a first wavelength; and a microresonator coupled to the source laser and configured to receive the CW light and generate an optical signal having a plurality of output wavelengths corresponding to the first wavelength. the generator includes a microresonator tuning device coupled to the microresonator and configured to tune the microresonator to compensate the microresonator for wavelength shifts. A control circuit iscoupled to the microresonator tuning device and configured to generate a control signal to control the microresonator tuning device based on the optical signal. Multiple microresonators in the form of microrings may be included to tune the generator. A heater coupled to the microresonators may be used to adjust the microresonators.

Abstract: A photonic waveform generator and a method of generating an electrical waveform based on a photonic signal are disclosed. The generator includes an input port for receiving an optical signal, a pulse shaper coupled to the input port and configured to Fourier transform the optical signal and apply a pre-distort waveform onto optical spectrum of the optical signal, a dispersive pulse stretcher coupled to the pulse shaper, an optical-to-electrical converter coupled to the dispersive pulse stretcher, and an output port coupled to the optical-to-electrical converter, the pre-distortion removes distortion of the electrical signal that exists in the absence of the pre-distortion caused by violation of far field limitation between the optical signal and the electrical signal.

Abstract: An optical comb generator, having a light input port configured to receive a continuous wave light from a laser source and a plurality of phase modulators coupled to the light input port. At least one intensity modulator is coupled to the plurality of the phase modulators, along with a plurality of phase shifters. The phase shifters are coupled to a corresponding phase modulator. A radio frequency (RF) clock is coupled to the phase modulators and the intensity modulator, and configured to provide synchronous clock input to the phase modulators and the intensity modulator. The comb generator may also incorporate an RF switch disposed between the RF clock and the phase shifters associated with a phase modulator, so that the RF switch enables tuning each corresponding phase shifter to thereby provide a tunable optical comb.

Abstract: A photonic waveform generator and a method of generating an electrical waveform based on a photonic signal are disclosed. The generator includes an input port for receiving an optical signal, a pulse shaper coupled to the input port and configured to Fourier transform the optical signal and apply a pre-distort waveform onto optical spectrum of the optical signal, a dispersive pulse stretcher coupled to the pulse shaper, an optical-to-electrical converter coupled to the dispersive pulse stretcher, and an output port coupled to the optical-to-electrical converter, the pre-distortion removes distortion of the electrical signal that exists in the absence of the pre-distortion caused by violation of far field limitation between the optical signal and the electrical signal.

Abstract: A photonic waveform generator and a method of generating an electrical waveform based on a photonic signal are disclosed. The generator includes an input port for receiving an optical signal, a pulse shaper coupled to the input port and configured to Fourier transform the optical signal and apply a pre-distort waveform onto optical spectrum of the optical signal, a dispersive pulse stretcher coupled to the pulse shaper, an optical-to-electrical converter coupled to the dispersive pulse stretcher, and an output port coupled to the optical-to-electrical converter, the pre-distortion removes distortion of the electrical signal that exists in the absence of the pre-distortion caused by violation of far field limitation between the optical signal and the electrical signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus or generating a radiation pulse sequence are disclosed. One embodiment of the apparatus includes two coupled direct space-to-time pulse generators (DSTPGs) with a channel operation element (COE) in between. The first DSTPG forms multiple spatially separated radiation pulse sequences. The COE operates to modify one or more of the radiation pulse sequences, such as imparting a time delay between them. The modified radiation pulse sequences are then combined by the second DSTPG to form a single output radiation pulse sequence.

Abstract: A system and method for programmable phase compensation of optical signals is disclosed. The systems and methods include the use of a polarization-independent spatial light modulator (PI-SLM), so that the state of polarization (SOP) of the incoming optical signal need not be known. The system includes a first dispersive module that spatially separates the optical signal into its frequency components. The frequency components are spread over the active area of the PI-SLM. The active area of the PI-SLM includes an array of independently programmable addressable regions capable of altering the phase of the light incident thereon. An exemplary application of the invention is chromatic dispersion compensation. By knowing the amount of chromatic dispersion in the optical signal, or alternatively, by knowing the amount of chromatic dispersion to be introduced into the optical signal downstream, the appropriate phase adjustments can be made to each frequency component of the signal.