Abstract: A wavelength converter which performs simultaneously wavelength conversion for a plurality of input light wavelengths that are unequally intervals, is provided. The nonlinear material of the wavelength converter has a modulation structure which has modulation of a nonlinear optical constant at a period ?0 in a propagating direction of light, a phase being continuously changed each period ?0 and a continuous phase modulation for a different period ?ph being added to the modulation structure. The nonlinear material has a modulation structure obtained by changing a modulation curve for the phase modulation, wherein a phase mismatch ?? is represented by ??=2?(n3/?3?n2/?2?n1/?1), and at least three peaks at unequally intervals within a plurality of peaks for conversion efficiency represented by 2?/?0+2?i/?f (i=m, m+1, . . . , n: where m and n are positive or negative integers) have highest conversion efficiency.

Abstract: A light source apparatus with modulation function has a wavelength conversion module (75) composed of a nonlinear optical material with a structure having a nonlinear constant modulated periodically. It outputs a difference frequency or sum frequency produced by multiplexing pumping light from semiconductor laser light sources (71) and (72) with different wavelengths through a WDM coupler (74) and by launching the multiplexed light into the optical waveguide. The semiconductor laser light source (72) includes a diffraction grating. The semiconductor laser light source (71) includes a section for modulating output light emitted from its semiconductor laser, and is connected to an external FBG (73) which has a reflection band narrower than a resonance wavelength spacing determined by the device length of the semiconductor laser. The FBG (73) is supplied with the modulated output.

Abstract: A light source apparatus with modulation function has a wavelength conversion module (75) composed of a nonlinear optical material with a structure having a nonlinear constant modulated periodically. It outputs a difference frequency or sum frequency produced by multiplexing pumping light from semiconductor laser light sources (71) and (72) with different wavelengths through a WDM coupler (74) and by launching the multiplexed light into the optical waveguide. The semiconductor laser light source (72) includes a diffraction grating. The semiconductor laser light source (71) includes a section for modulating output light emitted from its semiconductor laser, and is connected to an external FBG (73) which has a reflection band narrower than a resonance wavelength spacing determined by the device length of the semiconductor laser. The FBG (73) is supplied with the modulated output.

Abstract: A wavelength converter which performs simultaneously wavelength conversion for a plurality of input light wavelengths that are unequally intervals, is provided. The nonlinear material of the wavelength converter has a modulation structure which has modulation of a nonlinear optical constant at a period ?0 in a propagating direction of light, a phase being continuously changed each period ?0 and a continuous phase modulation for a different period ?ph being added to the modulation structure. The nonlinear material has a modulation structure obtained by changing a modulation curve for the phase modulation, wherein a phase mismatch ?? is represented by ??=2?(n3/?3?n2/?2?n1/?1), and at least three peaks at unequally intervals within a plurality of peaks for conversion efficiency represented by 2?/?0+2?i/?f (i=m, m+1, . . . , n: where m and n are positive or negative integers) have highest conversion efficiency.

Abstract: A light source is provided that realizes a single spectral linewidth having a half value width of 1 MHz or less and that is not influenced by the ambient temperature. A light source includes first laser (71) generating first laser light, second laser (12) generating second laser light, and nonlinear optical crystal (13) wherein the first laser light and the second laser light are injected into the nonlinear optical crystal to generate coherent light by the generation of a difference frequency or a sum frequency. The second laser (12) is a wavelength-tunable light source that includes therein a diffraction grating and that can sweep the wavelength of the second laser light. The first laser (71) is composed of semiconductor laser and a fiber grating that has a reflection bandwidth narrower than a resonance wavelength spacing determined by the laser chip length of the semiconductor laser.

Abstract: The present invention provides a periodically-poled structure with high conversion efficiency and improved manufacturing yield. The method for manufacturing a periodically-poled structure in a second order nonlinear optical crystal having a single domain structure (31) includes the steps of forming a resist pattern (32) which matches a polarization-inverted period on a ?Z surface of the second order nonlinear optical crystal (31), and applying voltage to the ?Z surface as a negative voltage where the resist pattern (32) is formed, and a +Z surface as a positive voltage so as to apply an electric field in the second order nonlinear optical crystal (31), wherein the second order nonlinear optical crystal (31) contains at least one element as a dopant which compensate for the crystal defects.

Abstract: In an SOA characteristic evaluation method, the current is supplied to an SOA. An optical output generated by the SOA that have received the current is measured. Transmission light obtained by transmitting the optical output through a wavelength filter and/or a polarizer is measured. The characteristic of the SOA is evaluated on the basis of the measurement result of the optical output and the measurement result of the transmission light without using an optical input to the SOA. An SOA characteristic evaluation apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: In an SOA characteristic evaluation method, the current is supplied to an SOA. An optical output generated by the SOA that have received the current is measured. Transmission light obtained by transmitting the optical output through a wavelength filter and/or a polarizer is measured. The characteristic of the SOA is evaluated on the basis of the measurement result of the optical output and the measurement result of the transmission light without using an optical input to the SOA. An SOA characteristic evaluation apparatus is also disclosed.