Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments relate to an optical discrete Fourier transform device including: a 1×N splitter; N optical delay lines each with an optical phase shifter, wherein the N optical delay lines are coupled to the 1×N MMI device; and an N×N MMI device coupled to the N optical delay lines, wherein the N×N MMI device produces N optical outputs.

Abstract: In exemplary embodiments, all-optical pattern recognition for an optical input signal is achieved by wavelength-converting the input signal and then passively correlating the wavelength-converted signal based on a specified data pattern. By performing wavelength conversion using a CW laser signal having wavelength stability greater than that of the input signal, errors resulting from wavelength sensitivity of the passive correlator can be reduced. By performing both wavelength conversion and OOK-to-BPSK format conversion prior to the passive correlation, limitations in the number of available OOK patterns can be avoided. By performing the passive correlation in a bi-directional manner, feedback signal can be generated to control the operations of the passive correlator and/or the laser signal source(s).

Abstract: An optical pulse monitor (OPM) that determines an optical phase profile for a pulse train by (i) modulating the optical phase of pulses in the pulse train using a periodic waveform and (ii) generating a derivative of a spectrum of the resulting modulated signal with respect to the waveform's amplitude. In one embodiment, an OPM has a phase modulator that modulates the optical phase of pulses in a received pulse train using a periodic waveform supplied by a configurable drive circuit. The drive circuit temporally aligns the waveform with the pulse train to serially produce each of four selected temporal alignments. An optical signal analyzer measures a spectrum of the modulated signal generated by the modulator for each of these four temporal alignments and provides the four measured spectra to a processor. The processor uses the measured spectra to determine two spectrum derivatives with respect to the waveform's amplitude.

Abstract: An all-optical modulation format converter for converting optical data signals modulated in an on-off-keying (OOK) format to a phase-shift-keying (PSK) format. The OOK-to-PSK converter can be coupled to a delay-line interferometer to provide an all-optical wavelength converter for differential PSK (DPSK). The OOK-to-PSK converter can also be used in all-optical implementations of various functions, including, for example, exclusive-OR (XOR/NXOR) and OR logic, shift registers, and pseudo-random binary sequence (PRBS) generators. Several variants of all-optical devices are described.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for transmitting alternate-polarization phase-shift-keyed data. The output of a laser is modulated to optically encode electronic data using phase shift keying (PSK) to generate an optical signal. An alternate polarization PSK (APol-PSK) signal is generated by alternating the polarization of the optical signal using a modulator such that successive optical bits have substantially orthogonal polarizations.

Abstract: An all-optical modulation format converter for converting optical data signals modulated in an on-off-keying (OOK) format to a phase-shift-keying (PSK) format. The OOK-to-PSK converter can be coupled to a delay-line interferometer to provide an all-optical wavelength converter for differential PSK (DPSK). The OOK-to-PSK converter can also be used in all-optical implementations of various functions, including, for example, exclusive-OR (XOR/NXOR) and OR logic, shift registers, and pseudo-random binary sequence (PRBS) generators.

Abstract: A communication system adapted to use wavelength (frequency) division multiplexing for quantum-key distribution (QKD) and having a transmitter coupled to a receiver via a transmission link. In one embodiment, the receiver is adapted to (i) phase-shift a local oscillator (LO) signal generated at the receiver, (ii) combine the LO signal with a quantum-information (QI) signal received via the transmission link from the transmitter to produce interference signals, (iii) measure an intensity difference for these interference signals, and (iv) phase-lock the LO signal to the QI signal based on the measurement result. In one configuration, the QI signal has a plurality of pilot frequency components, each carrying a training signal, and a plurality of QKD frequency components, each carrying quantum key data. Advantageously, the system can maintain a phase lock for the QKD frequency components of the QI and LO signals, while the QKD frequency components of the QI signal continuously carry quantum key data.

Abstract: An all-optical modulation format converter for converting optical data signals modulated in an on-off-keying (OOK) format to a phase-shift-keying (PSK) format. The OOK-to-PSK converter can be coupled to a delay-line interferometer to provide an all-optical wavelength converter for differential PSK (DPSK). The OOK-to-PSK converter can also be used in all-optical implementations of various functions, including, for example, exclusive-OR (XOR/NXOR) and OR logic, shift registers, and pseudo-random binary sequence (PRBS) generators.

Abstract: In exemplary embodiments, all-optical pattern recognition for an optical input signal is achieved by wavelength-converting the input signal and then passively correlating the wavelength-converted signal based on a specified data pattern. By performing wavelength conversion using a CW laser signal having wavelength stability greater than that of the input signal, errors resulting from wavelength sensitivity of the passive correlator can be reduced. By performing both wavelength conversion and OOK-to-BPSK format conversion prior to the passive correlation, limitations in the number of available OOK patterns can be avoided. By performing the passive correlation in a bi-directional manner, feedback signal can be generated to control the operations of the passive correlator and/or the laser signal source(s).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for modulating an optical signal using electroabsorption in conjunction with an optical interferometer. Phase-shift keying modulation can be achieved with lower amplitude modulator drive signals than conventional methods by splitting the signal to be modulated into multiple optical modes and interferometrically combining the modes after modulating at least one of the modes with an EAM. Using the present invention, the extinction ratio performance of ASK can be significantly improved for a given drive voltage or a desired extinction ratio can be achieved with a substantially lower drive voltage. Hence, the elecro-optic bandwidth of EAMs can be enhanced by overcoming the trade-off relationship between extinction ratio and bandwidth. Furthermore, the present invention can be used to generate other modulation formats, such as QPSK or QAM, with much lower drive voltages, thereby reducing the cost and power consumption of the high-speed drive electronics for the modulation.

Abstract: An all-optical modulation format converter for converting optical data signals modulated in an on-off-keying (OOK) format to a phase-shift-keying (PSK) format. The OOK-to-PSK converter can be coupled to a delay-line interferometer to provide an all-optical wavelength converter for differential PSK (DPSK). The OOK-to-PSK converter can also be used in all-optical implementations of various functions, including, for example, exclusive-OR (XOR) logic, shift registers, and pseudo-random binary sequence (PRBS) generators.

Abstract: An optical pulse monitor (OPM) that determines an optical phase profile for a pulse train by (i) modulating the optical phase of pulses in the pulse train using a periodic waveform and (ii) generating a derivative of a spectrum of the resulting modulated signal with respect to the waveform's amplitude. In one embodiment, an OPM has a phase modulator that modulates the optical phase of pulses in a received pulse train using a periodic waveform supplied by a configurable drive circuit. The drive circuit temporally aligns the waveform with the pulse train to serially produce each of four selected temporal alignments. An optical signal analyzer measures a spectrum of the modulated signal generated by the modulator for each of these four temporal alignments and provides the four measured spectra to a processor. The processor uses the measured spectra to determine two spectrum derivatives with respect to the waveform's amplitude.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for modulating an optical signal using electroabsorption in conjunction with an optical interferometer. Phase-shift keying modulation can be achieved with lower amplitude modulator drive signals than conventional methods by splitting the signal to be modulated into multiple optical modes and interferometrically combining the modes after modulating at least one of the modes with an EAM. Using the present invention, the extinction ratio performance of ASK can be significantly improved for a given drive voltage or a desired extinction ratio can be achieved with a substantially lower drive voltage. Hence, the elecro-optic bandwidth of EAMs can be enhanced by overcoming the trade-off relationship between extinction ratio and bandwidth. Furthermore, the present invention can be used to generate other modulation formats, such as QPSK or QAM, with much lower drive voltages, thereby reducing the cost and power consumption of the high-speed drive electronics for the modulation.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for synchronizing two different types of modulators in an optical transmission system includes a first modulator generating an optical pulse train, a second modulator encoding data onto the optical pulse train, an optical filter resolving upper and lower modulation sidebands of the optical data and an analyzer measuring the optical power of modulation sidebands and converting the received optical power of the sidebands into a control signal for synchronizing the two modulators. A wedged etalon is the filter element selecting the USB and LSB from the optical data spectrum. The analyzer contains photo-detectors measuring the optical power of the filtered USB and LSB and an electronic differential amplifier producing a control signal based upon photo-detector output. The phase shifter, in response to the control signal, adapts the temporal delay of the first modulator to reduce differences between the power levels of the upper and lower sidebands.

Abstract: An all-optical modulation format converter for converting optical data signals modulated in an on-off-keying (OOK) format to a phase-shift-keying (PSK) format. The OOK-to-PSK converter can be coupled to a delay-line interferometer to provide an all-optical wavelength converter for differential PSK (DPSK). The OOK-to-PSK converter can also be used in all-optical implementations of various functions, including, for example, exclusive-OR (XOR) logic, shift registers, and pseudo-random binary sequence (PRBS) generators.

Abstract: A communication system adapted to use wavelength (frequency) division multiplexing for quantum-key distribution (QKD). In one embodiment, a communication system of the invention has a transmitter coupled to a receiver via a transmission link. The transmitter has (i) a first optical-frequency comb source (OFCS) adapted to generate a first plurality of uniformly spaced frequency components and (ii) a first multi-channel optical modulator adapted to independently modulate each component of the first plurality to produce a quantum-information (QI) signal applied to the transmission link. The receiver has (i) a second OFCS adapted to generate a second plurality of uniformly spaced frequency components and (ii) a second multi-channel optical modulator adapted to independently modulate each component of the second plurality to produce a local-oscillator (LO) signal.

Abstract: A communication system adapted to use wavelength (frequency) division multiplexing for quantum-key distribution (QKD) and having a transmitter coupled to a receiver via a transmission link. In one embodiment, the receiver is adapted to (i) phase-shift a local oscillator (LO) signal generated at the receiver, (ii) combine the LO signal with a quantum-information (QI) signal received via the transmission link from the transmitter to produce interference signals, (iii) measure an intensity difference for these interference signals, and (iv) phase-lock the LO signal to the QI signal based on the measurement result. In one configuration, the QI signal has a plurality of pilot frequency components, each carrying a training signal, and a plurality of QKD frequency components, each carrying quantum key data. Advantageously, the system can maintain a phase lock for the QKD frequency components of the QI and LO signals, while the QKD frequency components of the QI signal continuously carry quantum key data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for characterizing light from an optical source using simplified chronocyclic tomography by modulating the phase of light from an optical source using alternating positive and negative quadratic temporal phase modulation at a desired alternating frequency ?; generating an electric signal proportional to the optical power of the modulated light after propagation through an optical frequency resolving device, for a desired optical frequency ?; determining a time-invariant and time-varying components of the electric signal; repeating the generating and determining steps for a plurality of optical frequencies; and determining the spectral phase and spectral intensity of the light from the optical source using the time-invariant and time-varying components determined for the plurality of optical frequencies.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for characterizing light from an optical source using simplified chronocyclic tomography by modulating the phase of light from an optical source using alternating positive and negative quadratic temporal phase modulation at a desired alternating frequency ?; generating an electric signal proportional to the optical power of the modulated light after propagation through an optical frequency resolving device, for a desired optical frequency ?; determining a time-invariant and time-varying components of the electric signal; repeating the generating and determining steps for a plurality of optical frequencies; and determining the spectral phase and spectral intensity of the light from the optical source using the time-invariant and time-varying components determined for the plurality of optical frequencies.

Abstract: An optical sampling method and apparatus are provided for modulating an optical signal using a first electroabsorption modulator (EAM) driven by a sinusoidal RF voltage signal to provide substantially jitter free temporal gating of the optical signal. The gated optical signal from the first EAM is routed through a second EAM to provide an optical output signal having a reduced repetition rate. The second EAM is driven using an electrical pulse train having a repetition rate that is a subharmonic of the frequency of the sinusoidal RF voltage signal driving the first EAM.