Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring the attenuation and dispersion introduced by a sample into an optical signal are disclosed. The apparatus includes a chirped light source, a beam splitter and an optical detector. The beam splitter splits the optical signal generated by the light source into a reference optical signal and a sample optical signal. The sample and reference optical signals are mixed on the detector after the sample optical signal has traversed an experimental sample thus generating a signal having an AC component related to an attenuation and a dispersion introduced by the experimental sample. The optical paths traversed by the reference and sample optical signals between the beam splitter and the detector are chosen such that the reference optical signal and the sample optical signal overlap in time but do not arrive at the optical detector at the same time.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring the attenuation and dispersion introduced by a sample into an optical signal are disclosed. The apparatus includes a chirped light source, a beam splitter and an optical detector. The beam splitter splits the optical signal generated by the light source into a reference optical signal and a sample optical signal. The sample and reference optical signals are mixed on the detector after the sample optical signal has traversed an experimental sample thus generating a signal having an AC component related to an attenuation and a dispersion introduced by the experimental sample. The optical paths traversed by the reference and sample optical signals between the beam splitter and the detector are chosen such that the reference optical signal and the sample optical signal overlap in time but do not arrive at the optical detector at the same time.

Abstract: A phase-diverse coherent optical spectrum analyzer is presented. An optical receiver receives a first input signal and a second input signal, and produces at least a first output signal, a second output signal, and a third output signal based on mixing the first input signal and the second input signal. A processing unit isolates heterodyne components from the first output signal, the second output signal and the third output signal, wherein the heterodyne components comprise a first signal and a second signal that represent the phase-diverse nature of the optical mixing process. Phase diversity of the heterodyning between the first input signal and the second input signal is achieved by the coherent optical spectrum analyzer.

Abstract: Embodiments in accordance with the invention provide an optical spectrum analyzer. The optical spectrum analyzer includes a receiver for receiving an optical local oscillator signal and an unknown optical signal. The receiver outputs three or more phase-diverse heterodyne signals. The phase-diverse heterodyne signals are coupled to a phase quadrature generator. The phase quadrature generator produces a first and second phase quadrature signals that are ninety degrees out of phase with respect to each other. The first and second phase quadrature signals are coupled to a complex signal generator. The complex signal generator produces a complex signal having a positive and negative image. A measurement processing unit determines the phase of the unknown optical signal from the relative difference of the phase of the positive and negative image of the complex signal.

Abstract: A phase-diverse coherent optical spectrum analyzer is presented. An optical receiver receives a first input signal and a second input signal, and produces at least a first output signal, a second output signal, and a third output signal based on mixing the first input signal and the second input signal. A processing unit isolates heterodyne components from the first output signal, the second output signal and the third output signal, wherein the heterodyne components comprise a first signal and a second signal that represent the phase-diverse nature of the optical mixing process. Phase diversity of the heterodyning between the first input signal and the second input signal is achieved by the coherent optical spectrum analyzer.

Abstract: Embodiments in accordance with the invention provide an optical spectrum analyzer. The optical spectrum analyzer includes a receiver for receiving an optical local oscillator signal and an unknown optical signal. The receiver outputs three or more phase-diverse heterodyne signals. The phase-diverse heterodyne signals are coupled to a phase quadrature generator. The phase quadrature generator produces a first and second phase quadrature signals that are ninety degrees out of phase with respect to each other. The first and second phase quadrature signals are coupled to a complex signal generator. The complex signal generator produces a complex signal having a positive and negative image. A measurement processing unit determines the phase of the unknown optical signal from the relative difference of the phase of the positive and negative image of the complex signal.