Abstract: An all-optical signal processor includes one or more input ports configured to receive one or more optical signal channels, a first nonlinear optical processor configured to receive an input signal from the input port and having one or more sections of a first nonlinear medium, an optical phase conjugator optically configured to receive the output signal of the first nonlinear optical processor, a second nonlinear optical processor configured to receive an output signal from the optical phase conjugator and having one or more sections of a second nonlinear medium, and one or more output ports configured to receive the output signal from the second nonlinear optical processor. Variations of the all-optical signal processor can include a single nonlinear optical processor through which an output of the optical phase conjugator co-propagates or counter-propagates with the input signal.

Abstract: In a method and system to fabricate a compact optical device, a periodic group-delay device (PGDD) includes N optical input ports, N being a positive integer number, each port being configured to include one or more wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) channels; N corresponding optical output ports, each port being configured to include one or more WDM channels. The PGDD also includes a first slab waveguide region (FSWR) coupled to the N optical input ports, a second slab waveguide region (SSWR) coupled to the said N optical output ports, a first optical grating coupled to the FSWR, a second optical grating coupled to the SSWR, and; a third slab waveguide region (TSWR) coupled to at least one of the first and second optical gratings. The TSWR is configured to provide a configurable amount of dispersion to the N optical output ports. Optical signals carried by each WDM channel are processed concurrently and independently.

Abstract: In a method and system to fabricate a compact optical device, a periodic group-delay device (PGDD) includes N optical input ports, N being a positive integer number, each port being configured to include one or more wavelength-division- multiplexing (WDM) channels; N corresponding optical output ports, each port being configured to include one or more WDM channels. The PGDD also includes a first slab waveguide region (FSWR) coupled to the N optical input ports, a second slab waveguide region (SSWR) coupled to the said N optical output ports, a first optical grating coupled to the FSWR, a second optical grating coupled to the SSWR, and; a third slab waveguide region (TSWR) coupled to at least one of the first and second optical gratings. The TSWR is configured to provide a configurable amount of dispersion to the N optical output ports. Optical signals carried by each WDM channel are processed concurrently and independently.

Abstract: According to various illustrative embodiments, a device, method, and system for measuring optical fine structure of lateral modes of an optical cavity are described. In one aspect, the device comprises at least one photodetector arranged to detect an output of the optical cavity in a lateral direction thereof. The device also comprises an analyzer coupled to an output of the at least one photodetector and arranged to analyze at least a portion of signals produced in the at least one photodetector by at least a portion of the lateral modes of the optical cavity. The device also comprises a processor arranged to determine the optical fine structure of the at least the portion of the lateral modes of the optical cavity based on an output of the analyzer.

Abstract: According to various illustrative embodiments, a device, method, and system for measuring optical fine structure of lateral modes of an optical cavity are described. In one aspect, the device comprises at least one photodetector arranged to detect an output of the optical cavity in a lateral direction thereof. The device also comprises an analyzer coupled to an output of the at least one photodetector and arranged to analyze at least a portion of signals produced in the at least one photodetector by at least a portion of the lateral modes of the optical cavity. The device also comprises a processor arranged to determine the optical fine structure of the at least the portion of the lateral modes of the optical cavity based on an output of the analyzer.

Abstract: An all-optical processor and method for simultaneous 2R regeneration of the multiple wavelength-division-multiplexed (WDM) channels comprising: a nonlinear medium, wherein the nonlinear medium comprises one or more highly-nonlinear fiber (HNLF) sections adapted to receive multiple WDM channels from the input, and wherein further the HNLF sections are separated by one or more periodic-group delay devices (PGDDs). The all-optical processor may also include one or more amplifiers adapted to receive the multiple WDM channels; one or more de-interleavers adapted to separate the WDM channels into one or more sets of WDM channels, one or more optical band-pass filters to filter the channels received from the amplifier; one or more optical band-pass filters to filter the channels received from the non-linear medium; and one or more interleavers to receive the filtered channels from the periodic band-pass filter and to combine the sets of WDM channels into an output.

Abstract: A passive optical system substantially simultaneously separates light received at an optical input into three or more output light beams on optical outputs. The output light beams may have intensities that are proportional to intensities of optical projections of the received light onto three or more basis vectors of a tetrahedral basis set of a Stokes space. The system includes either multiple partial polarization splitters or multiple optical interferometers.

Abstract: A passive optical system substantially simultaneously separates light received at an optical input into three or more output light beams on optical outputs. The output light beams may have intensities that are proportional to intensities of optical projections of the received light onto three or more basis vectors of a tetrahedral basis set of a Stokes space. The system includes either multiple partial polarization splitters or multiple optical interferometers.

Abstract: A passive optical system substantially simultaneously separates light received at an optical input into three or more output light beams on optical outputs. The output light beams may have intensities that are proportional to intensities of optical projections of the received light onto three or more basis vectors of a tetrahedral basis set of a Stokes space. The system includes either multiple partial polarization splitters or multiple optical interferometers.

Abstract: An all-optical processor and method for simultaneous 2R regeneration of the multiple wavelength-division-multiplexed (WDM) channels comprising: a nonlinear medium, wherein the nonlinear medium comprises one or more highly-nonlinear fiber (HNLF) sections adapted to receive multiple WDM channels from the input, and wherein further the HNLF sections are separated by one or more periodic-group delay devices (PGDDs). The all-optical processor may also include one or more amplifiers adapted to receive the multiple WDM channels; one or more de-interleavers adapted to separate the WDM channels into one or more sets of WDM channels, one or more optical band-pass filters to filter the channels received from the amplifier; one or more optical band-pass filters to filter the channels received from the non-linear medium; and one or more interleavers to receive the filtered channels from the periodic band-pass filter and to combine the sets of WDM channels into an output.

Abstract: A method of improving performance of an optical amplifier and an optical fiber amplifier including an optical fiber having a zero-dispersion wavelength, and at least one Raman pump that provides pump power to the optical fiber at a predetermined wavelength to allow transfer of at least a portion of the pump power to a first adjacent wavelength that is less than the zero-dispersion wavelength, and to a second adjacent wavelength that is greater than the zero-dispersion wavelength.

Abstract: A passive optical system substantially simultaneously separates light received at an optical input into three or more output light beams on optical outputs. The output light beams may have intensities that are proportional to intensities of optical projections of the received light onto three or more basis vectors of a tetrahedral basis set of a Stokes space. The system includes either multiple partial polarization splitters or multiple optical interferometers.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting an optical signal is provided. The apparatus includes sections of optical fiber span with at least one section negative dispersion, negative slope fiber positioned at a distance from the output. A pump light emitting device optically coupled to the optical fiber span near the output is provided for generating an amplification signal.

Abstract: In a distributed Raman amplification system, the pump laser and the fiber are chosen so as to have characteristics which result in broadening of the DRBS. For example, with a transmission fiber through which signal light of a wavelength &lgr;s propagates, and having zero dispersion at a wavelength &lgr;o; a pump laser producing counterpropagating pump light at a wavelength &lgr;p; where &lgr;p and &lgr;s are on opposite sides of the zero dispersion wavelength is used. The transmission fiber may be large effective area fiber. In a Raman amplification system suitable for use in a WDM optical fiber communication system, pump lasers having mode spacing which is less than the optical bandwidth of the signal channel have been found to be advantageous.

Abstract: An optical communication system that includes an optical network is disclosed having a plurality of nodes and a plurality of optical fiber links which includes optical fiber links that interconnect the nodes. Signals passing through the network are similarly pre-compensated and/or similarly post-compensated. The network preferably includes dispersion-managed optical fiber spans, and preferably further includes distributed amplification, preferably erbium amplifiers and/or Raman amplifiers. Preferably, the network is transparent.

Abstract: A method of improving performance of an optical amplifier and an optical fiber amplifier including an optical fiber having a zero-dispersion wavelength, and at least one Raman pump that provides pump power to the optical fiber at a predetermined wavelength to allow transfer of at least a portion of the pump power to a first adjacent wavelength that is less than the zero-dispersion wavelength, and to a second adjacent wavelength that is greater than the zero-dispersion wavelength.

Abstract: A system and method for amplifying an optical signal within an optical waveguide amplifier including providing at least one optical waveguide amplifier having an input for receiving an optical source signal therein and an output, wherein a forward pumping direction extends from the input to the output and rearward pumping direction extends from the output to the input. The system also includes providing at least one excitation light source in optical communication with the optical waveguide amplifier and capable of generating at least one excitation light. The system further includes amplifying the source signal by pumping a first excitation light from the excitation light source in the rearward pumping direction, and amplifying the source signal by simultaneously pumping a second excitation light from the excitation light source in the forward direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting an optical signal is provided comprising at least two sections of optical fiber, a directional wavelength selector positioned between the at least two sections of optical fiber wherein the directional wavelength selector selectively blocks wavelengths propagating in a reverse direction, and a pump light emitting device optically coupled to the optical fiber.

Abstract: In a distributed Raman amplification system, the pump laser and the fiber are chosen so as to have characteristics which result in broadening of the DRBS. For example, with a transmission fiber through which signal light of a wavelength &lgr;s propagates, and having zero dispersion at a wavelength &lgr;o; a pump laser producing counterpropagating pump light at a wavelength &lgr;p; where &lgr;p and &lgr;s are on opposite sides of the zero dispersion wavelength is used. The transmission fiber may be large effective area fiber. In a Raman amplification system suitable for use in a WDM optical fiber communication system, pump lasers having mode spacing which is less than the optical bandwidth of the signal channel have been found to be advantageous.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting an optical signal is provided. The apparatus includes sections of optical fiber span with at least one section negative dispersion, negative slope fiber positioned at a distance from the output. A pump light emitting device optically coupled to the optical fiber span near the output is provided for generating an amplification signal.