Abstract: The disclosure features mass spectrometry systems that include: an ion source; a module featuring an ion trap, an ion detector, and a module housing that at least partially surrounds the ion trap and the ion detector; and a vacuum pump featuring a housing having a recess dimensioned to receive the module, so that when the module is positioned within the recess of the vacuum pump housing, a portion of the module is surrounded by the vacuum pump housing, and during operation of the system, the ion source, ion trap, ion detector, and vacuum pump are connected along a common gas flow path and heat is transferred from the vacuum pump to the module.

Abstract: The disclosure features mass spectrometry systems that include: an ion source; a module featuring an ion trap, an ion detector, and a module housing that at least partially surrounds the ion trap and the ion detector; and a vacuum pump featuring a housing having a recess dimensioned to receive the module, so that when the module is positioned within the recess of the vacuum pump housing, a portion of the module is surrounded by the vacuum pump housing, and during operation of the system, the ion source, ion trap, ion detector, and vacuum pump are connected along a common gas flow path and heat is transferred from the vacuum pump to the module.

Abstract: The disclosure features mass spectrometry systems that include: an ion source; a module featuring an ion trap, an ion detector, and a module housing that at least partially surrounds the ion trap and the ion detector; and a vacuum pump featuring a housing having a recess dimensioned to receive the module, so that when the module is positioned within the recess of the vacuum pump housing, a portion of the module is surrounded by the vacuum pump housing, and during operation of the system, the ion source, ion trap, ion detector, and vacuum pump are connected along a common gas flow path and heat is transferred from the vacuum pump to the module.

Abstract: The disclosure features mass spectrometry systems that include: an ion source; a module featuring an ion trap, an ion detector, and a module housing that at least partially surrounds the ion trap and the ion detector; and a vacuum pump featuring a housing having a recess dimensioned to receive the module, so that when the module is positioned within the recess of the vacuum pump housing, a portion of the module is surrounded by the vacuum pump housing, and during operation of the system, the ion source, ion trap, ion detector, and vacuum pump are connected along a common gas flow path and heat is transferred from the vacuum pump to the module.

Abstract: A small-scale VOA system includes a polarization rotator, a voltage multiplier circuit, and at least one transistor. The polarization rotator can be positioned within a TOSA along the emission axis of a corresponding optical signal source in addition to one or more polarizers. A microcontroller provides a first low voltage control signal to a voltage multiplier to generate a large voltage DC signal which is provided to the transistor. The transistor modulates the large voltage signal with a second control signal from the microcontroller to generate a large voltage AC signal for driving the polarization rotator. The polarization rotation of the polarization rotator can be altered depending on the applied large-voltage AC signal. As a result, the polarization rotator and one or more polarizers can variably attenuate signals emitted by the optical signal source or act as a shutter.

Abstract: An optical transmitter with chirp control includes an input polarizer having an input that receives an optical signal. The input polarizer polarizes the optical signal along an input polarization axis. A Mach-Zehnder modulator includes an optical input that is coupled to an output of the input polarizer and an electrical input that receives a modulation signal. The Mach-Zehnder modulator modulates the optical signal with the modulation signal. The input polarization axis of the input polarizer is chosen to achieve a desired chirp of the modulated optical signal. An output polarizer is coupled to the output of the Mach-Zehnder modulator. The output polarizer polarizes the modulated optical signal along a desired output polarization axis that combines TE and TM mode polarizations.

Abstract: A phase-shift keyed signal demodulator and method for demodulating is disclosed. An example demodulator includes N filters that receive inputs from a splitter and include transmission functions offset from one another. N pairs of photodiodes receive the transmitted and reflected beams from each filter and a decoder converts the outputs of the pairs of photodiodes to one or more data symbols.

Abstract: A phase-shift keyed signal demodulator is disclosed including a filter positioned to receive an input beam, a first photodiode positioned to receive light reflected from the filter, and a second photodiode positioned to receive light transmitted through the filter. A difference between outputs of the first and second photodiodes is interpreted to determine a data value encoded in the input beam. In another embodiment N filters receive inputs from a splitter and include transmission functions offset from one another. N pairs of photo diodes receive the transmitted and reflected beams from each filter and a decoder converts the outputs of the pairs of photodiodes to one or more data symbols.

Abstract: A phase-shift keyed signal demodulator and method for demodulating is disclosed. An example demodulator includes N filters that receive inputs from a splitter and include transmission functions offset from one another. N pairs of photodiodes receive the transmitted and reflected beams from each filter and a decoder converts the outputs of the pairs of photodiodes to one or more data symbols.

Abstract: Low-cost FP lasers can be implemented in the upstream links of a WDM PON system by configuring them for single-mode operation. In a typical embodiment, an FP laser at a subscriber unit is injection seeded with CW seed light from a DFB laser or an ASE source at a central office to enable single-mode operation of the FP laser. The FP laser is directly modulated and the resulting optical data signal is transmitted upstream to the central office. At the central office, an optical spectrum reshaper/bandpass optical filter is positioned in front of an optical receiver to enhance the extinction ratio of the optical data signal and generate a vestigial sideband. A wavelength locker can also be implemented at the central office to stabilize the wavelength of the master DFB laser and the injection-seeded FP laser.

Abstract: A phase-shift keyed signal demodulator is disclosed including a filter positioned to receive an input beam, a first photodiode positioned to receive light reflected from the filter, and a second photodiode positioned to receive light transmitted through the filter. A difference between outputs of the first and second photodiodes is interpreted to determine a data value encoded in the input beam. In another embodiment N filters receive inputs from a splitter and include transmission functions offset from one another. N pairs of photo diodes receive the transmitted and reflected beams from each filter and a decoder converts the outputs of the pairs of photodiodes to one or more data symbols.

Abstract: A small-scale VOA system includes a polarization rotator, a voltage multiplier circuit, and at least one transistor. The polarization rotator can be positioned within a TOSA along the emission axis of a corresponding optical signal source in addition to one or more polarizers. A microcontroller provides a first low voltage control signal to a voltage multiplier to generate a large voltage DC signal which is provided to the transistor. The transistor modulates the large voltage signal with a second control signal from the microcontroller to generate a large voltage AC signal for driving the polarization rotator. The polarization rotation of the polarization rotator can be altered depending on the applied large-voltage AC signal. As a result, the polarization rotator and one or more polarizers can variably attenuate signals emitted by the optical signal source or act as a shutter.

Abstract: An optical transmitter is disclosed having a temperature stabilization system for an optical filter for maintaining constant the frequency response of the filter. The filter is mounted within a housing having a substantially higher thermal conductivity. The housing may include a copper-tungsten alloy and extend along the optical axis of the filter. The housing is in thermal contact with a thermo-electric cooler (TEC) and a temperature sensor. The TEC and temperature sensor are electrically coupled to a controller which adjusts the temperature of the TEC according to the output of the temperature sensor.

Abstract: An optical transmitter is discloses having a gain section and a phase section. The phase section is modulated to generate a frequency modulated signal encoding data. The frequency modulated signal is transmitted through an optical spectrum reshaper operable to convert it into a frequency and amplitude modulated signal. In some embodiments, a driving circuit is coupled to the phase and gain sections is configured to simultaneously modulate both the phase and gain sections such that the first signal is both frequency and amplitude modulated.

Abstract: An optical system comprising a frequency modulated laser source adapted to produce a frequency modulated optical beam, an optical spectrum reshaper (OSR) adapted to receive the frequency modulated optical beam from the laser source and convert it into an amplitude modulated optical beam, a focusing lens adapted to receive the amplitude modulated optical beam from the OSR and focus the same, and an optical fiber adapted to receive the amplitude modulated optical beam from the focusing lens and transmit an optical signal; characterized in that the OSR has a central axis, the focusing lens has a central axis, and the optical fiber has a central axis, with the central axis of the optical fiber being laterally offset from at least one of the central axis of the OSR and the central axis of the focusing lens so as to effect spatial filtering and thereby generate the desired optical transmission characteristics for the resulting optical signal in the optical fiber.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for optically steering an optical beam, the apparatus comprising a pair of optical prism components arranged together with a diffraction grating so as to allow efficient coupling of an array of spectrally and spatially offset laser diodes to a common optical fiber. A method of optically steering at least one of a series of optical beams is disclosed, the method comprising providing a pair of optical prism components comprising a thermo-optic material; actuating at least one of the components so as to steer at least one of the series of optical beams received from an array of spatially and spectrally offset lasers.

Abstract: A fiber optic communication system is disclosed having an optical signal source adapted to produce an amplitude and frequency modulated signal encoding binary data wherein high intensity 1 bits are red shifted relative to lower intensity 0 bits. The amplitude and frequency modulated signal is transmitted through a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA), which may operate in saturation. An optical spectrum reshaper (OSR) is adapted to reshape the output of the SOA.

Abstract: A small-scale VOA system includes a polarization rotator, a voltage multiplier circuit, and at least one transistor. The polarization rotator can be positioned within a TOSA along the emission axis of a corresponding optical signal source in addition to one or more polarizers. A microcontroller provides a first low voltage control signal to a voltage multiplier to generate a large voltage DC signal which is provided to the transistor. The transistor modulates the large voltage signal with a second control signal from the microcontroller to generate a large voltage AC signal for driving the polarization rotator. The polarization rotation of the polarization rotator can be altered depending on the applied large-voltage AC signal. As a result, the polarization rotator and one or more polarizers can variably attenuate signals emitted by the optical signal source or act as a shutter.

Abstract: A fiber optic system comprising a modulated signal source coupled to a spectral filtering element characterized in that the bandwidth of the optical spectrum of the signal after the spectral filtering element is reduced relative to the optical bandwidth of the spectrum before the filtering element.

Abstract: A fiber optic communication system for receiving an electronic digital data signal and transmitting the same, comprising an optical signal source adapted to receive the digital data signal and to produce a frequency modulated optical signal from a directly modulated semiconductor laser; an optical spectrum reshaper adapted to convert the frequency modulated optical signal into an amplitude modulated optical signal; and compensation apparatus for compensating for the adverse effects of the thermal chirp normally induced in the frequency modulated optical signal by modulating the semiconductor laser with the electronic digital data signal.