Abstract: Apparatus and methods demonstrate a chip-scale direct optical to RF link that frequency divides up to 120 GHz optical frequency combs to 10 GHz using harmonic multi-tone injection locking. The embodied invention links widely separated optical frequency combs in the millimeter wave regime (>120 GHz) or THz domain (100s of GHz to THz domain), e.g., microresonator-based frequency combs, which are currently outside of the photo-detection region, into the microwave domain (10s of GHz) where it can be easily photo-detected and controlled. The technique works as a perfect optical divider, using a mode-locked laser and optical injection locking as the technique to phase-lock both lasers.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods demonstrate a chip-scale direct optical to RF link that frequency divides up to 120 GHz optical frequency combs to 10 GHz using harmonic multi-tone injection locking. The embodied invention links widely separated optical frequency combs in the millimeter wave regime (>120 GHz) or THz domain (100s of GHz to THz domain), e.g., microresonator-based frequency combs, which are currently outside of the photo-detection region, into the microwave domain (10s of GHz) where it can be easily photo-detected and controlled. The technique works as a perfect optical divider, using a mode-locked laser and optical injection locking as the technique to phase-lock both lasers.

Abstract: Stabilization of an injection locked optical frequency comb is achieved through polarization spectroscopy of an active laser cavity, eliminating optical PM sidebands inherent in previous stabilization methods. Optical SNR of 35 dB is achieved. A monolithic AlInGaAs quantum well Fabry-Prot laser injection locked to a passively mode-locked monolithic laser is presented here. The FP laser cavity can be used as a true linear interferometric intensity modulator for pulsed light.

Abstract: Stabilization of an injection locked optical frequency comb is achieved through polarization spectroscopy of an active laser cavity, eliminating optical PM sidebands inherent in previous stabilization methods. Optical SNR of 35 dB is achieved. A monolithic AlInGaAs quantum well Fabry-Prot laser injection locked to a passively mode-locked monolithic laser is presented here. The FP laser cavity can be used as a true linear interferometric intensity modulator for pulsed light.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for modulating an optical signal are disclosed. One embodiment is a method comprising: phase modulating a slave laser which is injection locked to a master laser to produce an arcsine phase modulated optical signal, and combining the arcsine phase modulated optical signal with an output optical signal from the master laser.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems for an optical system for data harvesting and pattern recognition. The system includes a mode locked laser for producing a comb of optical frequencies that is split into two identical combs, a wavelength division demultiplexer eparate the individual optical frequency components of one comb and modulates each optical frequency component with a different one of plural target objects. A second modulator modulates an input signal with the second comb and an optical splitter splits the modulated signal into plural optical frequency components each containing the input signal. An optical combiner simultaneously combines the components containing the real time signal with one of the components containing a target object to produce a temporally modulated interferogram, and a comparator simultaneously compares the two on a comb by comb basis using balanced differential detection to determine any of the plural target objects are found in the input signal.

Abstract: An optoelectronic oscillator (OEO) is used to provide a continuous, high Q, modulated signal for a variety of purposes, including a carrier wave for communications, and radar emissions. The OEO of this invention replaces an RF filter in the conventional OEO with an interferometer, preferably a high finesse Fabry-Perot etalon as the mode selector, providing lower phase noise and higher RF frequency stability.

Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing and using optoelectronic gates are disclosed. One such method includes superimposing an electrical data bit onto a first optical input to produce a pair of first-stage optical outputs. The first one of the pair of first-stage optical outputs carries the electrical data bit and the second carries the complement of the electrical data bit. The method further includes comparing an electrical target bit with the electrical data bit conveyed by the first first-stage optical outputs and with the complement of the electrical data bit conveyed by the second first-stage optical outputs, to determine whether the electrical target bit and the electrical data bit are same or different.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for modulating an optical signal are disclosed. One embodiment is a method comprising: phase modulating a slave laser which is injection locked to a master laser to produce an arcsine phase modulated optical signal, and combining the arcsine phase modulated optical signal with an output optical signal from the master laser.

Abstract: A signal receiver, such as an RF-matched filter receiver, includes an optical source (e.g. a mode-locked laser) providing an optical signal, and a first optical modulator to modulate the optical signal with a received RF signal and provide a modulated optical signal. A second optical modulator modulates the modulated optical signal with a reference signal and provides a twice modulated optical signal. The modulators may be Mach-Zehnder Modulators (MZM) and/or Indium Phosphide (InP) modulators. An optical detector receives the twice modulated optical signal and provides a detected signal, and a processing unit receives the detected signal and extracts or measures cross-correlation between the received RF signal and the reference signal.

Abstract: An optoelectronic oscillator (OEO) is used to provide a continuous, high Q, modulated signal for a variety of purposes, including a carrier wave for communications, and radar emissions. The OEO of this invention replaces an RF filter in the conventional OEO with an interferometer, preferably a high finesse Fabry-Perot etalon as the mode selector, providing lower phase noise and higher RF frequency stability.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems for an optical system for data harvesting and pattern recognition. The system includes a mode locked laser for producing a comb of optical frequencies that is split into two identical combs, a wavelength division demultiplexer eparate the individual optical frequency components of one comb and modulates each optical frequency component with a different one of plural target objects. A second modulator modulates an input signal with the second comb and an optical splitter splits the modulated signal into plural optical frequency components each containing the input signal. An optical combiner simultaneously combines the components containing the real time signal with one of the components containing a target object to produce a temporally modulated interferogram, and a comparator simultaneously compares the two on a comb by comb basis using balanced differential detection to determine any of the plural target objects are found in the input signal.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods of generating both a precision electrical timing signal as well as a precision optical timing signal. A novel, modified opto-electronic loop oscillator is used to drive a harmonic mode-locked laser. A novel opto-electronic loop has a larger “Q” factor by increasing the electrical loop oscillating frequency ?0 by using a beat note created by the selection of two optical longitudinal modes from the mode-locked laser. The beat note is detected and divided down to drive a modulator that mode-locks the laser. The frequency division stage also reduces the noise.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems for an optical system for data harvesting and pattern recognition. The system includes a mode locked laser for producing a comb of optical frequencies that is split into two identical combs, a wavelength division demultiplexer separate the individual optical frequency components of one comb and modulates each optical frequency component with a different one of plural target objects. A second modulator modulates an input signal with the second comb and an optical splitter splits the modulated signal into plural optical frequency components each containing the input signal. An optical combiner simultaneously combines the components containing the real time signal with one of the components containing a target object to produce a temporally modulated interferogram, and a comparator simultaneously compares the two on a comb by comb basis using balanced differential detection to determine any of the plural target objects are found in the input signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing and using optoelectronic gates are disclosed. One such method includes superimposing an electrical data bit onto a first optical input to produce a pair of first-stage optical outputs. The first one of the pair of first-stage optical outputs carries the electrical data bit and the second carries the complement of the electrical data bit. The method further includes comparing an electrical target bit with the electrical data bit conveyed by the first first-stage optical outputs and with the complement of the electrical data bit conveyed by the second first-stage optical outputs, to determine whether the electrical target bit and the electrical data bit are same or different.

Abstract: Methods and systems for optical chirped pulse amplification and phase dispersion, the system including an active dispersion controller for receiving an input optical pulse from a modelocked laser and controlling a third and fourth order dispersion property of the input optical pulse to produce an optical output pulses, a stretching re-circulating loop for stretching the optical output pulses in time, an optical amplifier for amplifying the stretched optical output pulses, a compressing re-circulating loop for compressing the amplified stretched optical output pulse to produce a compressed optical output pulse, and a feedback loop for feeding a feedback optical signal to the active dispersion controller.

Abstract: Methods and devices for a coupled optoelectronic oscillator having optical frequency stabilization. The coupled optoelectronic oscillator includes a harmonically mode-locked laser cavity having a Mach-Zehnder modulator for mode-locking and an intracavity Fabry-Perot etalon to allow only one single supermode to lase, a stabilization loop coupled with the Fabry-Perot etalon to detect changes in the laser cavity optical frequency and generate an error signal to compensate for the frequency change to stabilize the mode-locking of the laser frequency stabilization, and an electrical loop between the laser cavity and the stabilization loop for driving the Mach-Zehnder modulator with the coupled optoelectronic oscillator signal.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for generating ultrashort optical linear chirped pulses with very high power by amplifying the pulses so that their temporal duration is longer than the storage time of the amplifying medium. The additional gain factor is related to the ratio of the storage time to the stretched pulse. A preferred embodiment connects a mode locked laser source that generates optical pulses whose duration is stretched with a chirped fiber Bragg grating. Embodiments include methods, devices and systems causing an extreme chirped pulse amplifier (XCPA) effect in an oscillator.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods of generating both a precision electrical timing signal as well as a precision optical timing signal. A novel, modified opto-electronic loop oscillator is used to drive a harmonic mode-locked laser. A novel opto-electronic loop has a larger “Q” factor by increasing the electrical loop oscillating frequency ?0 by using a beat note created by the selection of two optical longitudinal modes from the mode-locked laser. The beat note is detected and divided down to drive a modulator that mode-locks the laser. The frequency division stage also reduces the noise.

Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for performing high-precision length measurement. One such system includes: an optical receiver, configure to receive a reflected optical pulse from a target; an optical combiner, configured to generate a combined optical pulse using the reflected optical pulse and a reference optical pulse; and a signal analyzer configured to determine a distance to the target using a depth of modulation value of the combined signal. A method as disclosed herein includes the steps of determining a first length component of a combined optical signal using a depth of modulation value and determining a second length component of the combined optical signal using a modulation period value.