Abstract: All-optical timing extraction and optical clock recovery for high-speed return-to-zero binary optical data streams using the timing difference between clock and data counter-propagating optical pulses in a non-linear optical waveguide where the first pulse to arrive at the non-linear optical waveguide partially saturates the transmission properties of the waveguide resulting in a change of the transmission properties seen by the lagging pulse. A balanced photo-detector makes delay-dependent comparisons of the clock and data pulses' peak power and generates an error signal used in a phase-locked loop configuration to synchronize the clock to the data stream.

Abstract: The present invention provides simultaneous all-optical regeneration (re-shape and re-amplify) and wavelength conversion using a reverse-biased electroabsorption modulator. The nonlinear optical transmission characteristic of the electroabsorption modulator reshapes the degraded input data by selective absorption of the optical noise and, therefore, increases the signal-to-noise ratio of the output. Reverse biasing the modulator allows fast recovery of the optical absorption for high data-rate operation without the detrimental bit-patterning effect. Error-free wavelength conversion and regeneration at 20 Gb/s was obtained with more than 3-dB improvement of the receiver sensitivity at a bit-error-rate of 10−9.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring the spectral dependence of the Raman gain coefficient in optical fibers is presented. This approach measures the power level of Raman scattering in both a walk-off limited region and a physical fiber length limited region and, from these measurements, extracts the spectral dependence of the Raman gain coefficient. Access to these two regions is accomplished through control of the excitation pulse temporal width and relies on fiber dispersion to separate the excitation light from the Raman scattered light for short pulse widths. This approach measures the spectral dependence of the Raman gain without the necessity of absolute power measurement of the Raman scattered light, the need for a reference standard, or the need of a frequency tunable secondary optical source.

Abstract: A low pressure gas electrode utilizing ionized gas in a glow discharge regime forms a transparent electrode for electro-optical switches. The transparent electrode comprises a low pressure gas region on both sides of the crystal. When the gas is ionized, e.g., by a glow discharge in the low pressure gas, the plasma formed is a good conductor. The gas electrode acts as a highly uniform conducting electrode. Since the plasma is transparent to a high energy laser beam passing through the crystal, the electrode is a transparent electrode. A crystal exposed from two sides to such a plasma can be charged up uniformly to any desired voltage. The plasma can be created either by the main high voltage pulser used to charge up the crystal or by auxiliary discharges or external sources of ionization. A typical configuration utilizes 10 torr argon in the discharge region adjacent to each crystal face.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for electrical excitation of a laser gas by application of a pulsed voltage across the gas, followed by passage of a pulsed, high energy electron beam through the gas to initiate a discharge suitable for laser excitation. This method improves upon current power conditioning techniques and is especially useful for driving rare gas halide lasers at high repetition rates.

Abstract: In a laser pulse generator, short pulses adjustable in the range between about 0.1 and 0.5 nanoseconds are produced by improved spectral filtering of the output of a gas breakdown switch. The spectral filter in one embodiment is a hot, linearly absorbing gas cell that passes both sidebands of the radiation producing the gas breakdown in the switch and that linearly absorbs the center frequency. A second embodiment uses a tandem dual-slit monochromator as the spectral filter in order to pass both sidebands. The hot gas cell is simpler, cheaper and characterized by a higher rejection ratio than any other alternative to date. It yields very clean pulses with a steeper leading edge than prior techniques. The leading edge is highly reproducible, as needed for nuclear fusion work. The advantage over prior pulsed CO.sub.2 lasers for nuclear fusion work is substantial, since those prior lasers have not achieved pulse durations less than one nanosecond.