Open AccessSimple nonlinear interferometer-based all-optical thresholder and its applications for optical CDMA
Author(s) -
Konstantin Kravtsov,
Paul R. Prucnal,
Mikhail M. Bubnov
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.15.013114
Subject(s) - optics , interferometry , nonlinear system , transfer function , ultrashort pulse , nonlinear optics , physics , optical fiber , self phase modulation , laser , electrical engineering , quantum mechanics , engineering
We present an experimental demonstration of an ultrafast all-optical thresholder based on a nonlinear Sagnac interferometer. The proposed design is intended for operation at very small nonlinear phase shifts. Therefore, it requires an in-loop nonlinearity lower than for the classical nonlinear loop mirror scheme. Only 15 meters of conventional (non-holey) silica-based fiber is used as a nonlinear element. The proposed thresholder is polarization insensitive and is good for multi-wavelength operation, meeting all the requirements for autocorrelation detection in various optical CDMA communication systems. The observed cubic transfer function is superior to the quadratic transfer function of second harmonic generation-based thresholders.