Open AccessUltrafast all-optical differentiators
Author(s) -
Radan Slavı́k,
Yongwoo Park,
Mykola Kulishov,
Roberto Morandotti,
José Azaña
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.14.010699
Subject(s) - optics , ultrashort pulse , differentiator , picosecond , waveform , fiber bragg grating , pulse shaping , apodization , optical fiber , materials science , physics , bandwidth (computing) , laser , optoelectronics , computer science , telecommunications , quantum mechanics , voltage
We report the experimental realization of an ultrafast all-optical temporal differentiator. Differentiation is obtained via all-fiber filtering based on a simple diffraction grating-assisted mode coupler (uniform long-period fiber grating) that performs full energy conversion at the optical carrier frequency. Due to its high bandwidth, this device allows processing of arbitrary optical signals with sub-picosecond temporal features (down to 180-fs with the specific realizations reported here). Functionality of this device was tested by differentiating a 700-fs Gaussian optical pulse generated from a fiber laser (@ 1535nm). The derivative of this pulse is an odd-symmetry Hermite-Gaussian waveform, consisting of two linked 500-fs-long, pi-phase-shifted temporal lobes. This waveform is noteworthy for its application in advanced ultrahigh-speed optical communication systems.