Abstract: A random number generator includes a light source emitting light at a first frequency, an optical unit including an optical component configured to receive light at the first frequency and emit light at a second frequency, and a measurement unit configured to receive light at the second frequency, and generate a random output value related to a phase parameter of the light at the second frequency.

Abstract: A random number generator includes a light source emitting light at a first frequency, an optical unit including an optical component configured to receive light at the first frequency and emit light at a second frequency, and a measurement unit configured to receive light at the second frequency, and generate a random output value related to a phase parameter of the light at the second frequency.

Abstract: Certain embodiments relate to and involve producing broadband phase-locked frequency combs in the near-infrared and mid-infrared spectral ranges. One such embodiment is directed to a system, with a pump laser and an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) resonator, that is configured to produce broad-bandwidth frequency combs in the near-infrared and mid-infrared frequency ranges. The pump laser is configured to produce femtosecond pulses of light having a pulse repetition rate. The optical parametric oscillator (OPO) resonator that is coupled to the pump laser for facilitating synchronous OPO pumping by matching a roundtrip time of the pulses of light within the OPO resonator with the pulse repetition rate of the pump laser.

Abstract: Certain embodiments relate to and involve producing broadband phase-locked frequency combs in the near-infrared and mid-infrared spectral ranges. One such embodiment is directed to a system, with a pump laser and an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) resonator, that is configured to produce broad-bandwidth frequency combs in the near-infrared and mid-infrared frequency ranges. The pump laser is configured to produce femtosecond pulses of light having a pulse repetition rate. The optical parametric oscillator (OPO) resonator that is coupled to the pump laser for facilitating synchronous OPO pumping by matching a roundtrip time of the pulses of light within the OPO resonator with the pulse repetition rate of the pump laser.

Abstract: Terahertz radiation generation systems and methods are implemented using a variety of methods and devices. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, method for generating terahertz radiation is implemented where the wavelength of an optical pulse is controlled, and where the wavelength is controlled as a function of the group velocity dispersion in a nonlinear crystal. The optical pulse is then directed through consecutively-inverted parallel domains in the nonlinear crystal.

Abstract: A method for generating THz radiation comprises illuminating a semiconductor crystal with an optical pulse train. The semiconductor crystal comprises alternating parallel crystal domains, with each domain having a crystal orientation inverted with respect to adjacent domains. The optical pulse train propagates substantially perpendicularly relative to domain boundaries in the semiconductor crystal. The THz radiation is generated from the optical pulse train by optical down-conversion mediated by the semiconductor crystal. Optical path lengths through the crystal domains at least in part determine a frequency of the generated THz radiation. THz generation efficiency may be enhanced by placing the semiconductor crystal within an external resonant cavity, by placing the semiconductor crystal within a laser cavity, or by placing the semiconductor crystal within an OPO cavity. The semiconductor crystal may comprise zinc-blende, III-V, or II-VI semiconductor.