Electrical transmission or interconnection systems – Nonlinear reactor systems – Parametrons
Patent
1988-09-08
1990-04-03
Sikes, William L.
Electrical transmission or interconnection systems
Nonlinear reactor systems
Parametrons
350 9629, 350 963, 307430, G02B 626
Patent
active
049135074
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Optical signal processing and the long-haul transmission of optical data through optical fiber waveguides are becoming more widespread with the continuing technical evolution and economic viability of fiber-optic communications and sensor systems. The need for equipment such as optical regenerator/repeaters, which operate on the basis of optical to electrical signal conversion, electrical signal amplification, which then modulates the laser transmitter for further optical transmission, represents an impediment to full realization of the advantages of fiber-optic transmission systems. Similarly, in the field of fiber-optic data bus networks, optical amps or attenuators are needed to match the signal levels to requirements of the optical circuit or particular circuit components, which results in a number of impediments. The full realization of the advantages of optical transmission networks is not achieved, since the input energy density requirements of each of the elements in the optical circuit may vary. Presently, there is no convenient way to transition energy density at discrete places in an optical circuit to the precise level needed to induce, for example, the nonlinear optical effects needed for proper device functioning.
Relatively high intensity optical pulses transmitted in single-mode optical fibers have been observed to experience nonlinear effects during transmission through the fibers. These nonlinear effects, that is, stimulated Raman scattering, stimulated Brillouin scattering, self-phase modulation, intensity-dependent rotation of the linear polarization state, and stimulated four-photon mixing have all been studied theoretically, and to one extent or another, have been demonstrated experimentally in the laboratory. Furthermore, certain thresholds for the onset of these effects in single-mode fibers have been established.
The need for the incorporation of devices based upon nonlinear optical propagation effects into practical optical transmission links is just beginning to be recognized. Fiber-optic waveguides are becoming increasingly useful in the laboratory as a nonlinear medium for optical amplification and optical signal processing. The small diameter of the fiber core and the long interaction length are conducive to developing nonlinear effects. Hence, all-optical devices employing fibers have been demonstrated in the lab to obtain such functions as: direct optical amplification, optical gating or switching, optical pulse shaping, short pulse generation or pulse compression, dispersion compensation or the generation of soliton pulses.
An example of a device for optical gating using single-mode birefringent fiber has been demonstrated in the laboratory (see "Fiber-Optic Logic Gate" by K. Kitayama et al., Appl. Phys. Lett., Vol. 46, No. 4, (1985), pp. 317-319). The operation of the device is based upon the intensity dependent polarization rotation in birefringent fibers.
Another nonlinear optical device is the Kerr shutter described in the article by K. Kitayama et al., "Optical Sampling Using An All-Fiber Optical Kerr Shutter", Appl. Phys. Lett., Vol. 46, No. 7, (1985), pp. 623-625. In this case, energy from the pump light is injected into a highly birefringent fiber which results in a Kerr induced phase shift in this polarization preserving fiber thereby acting as the trigger for the shutter. Subsequent optical sampling and light modulation can be utilized in, for example, optical logic gates.
A laboratory demonstration of a nonlinear coupler switch capable of substantially complete all-optical switching at sub-picosecond rates has been reported ("Ultrafast All-Optical Switching In A Dual-Core Fiber Nonlinear Coupler," S. R. Friberg et al., Appl. Phys. Lett., Vol. 51, No. 15, (1987), pp. 1135-1137). By embedding two fibers parallel and adjacent to each other in a material having a large nonlinear coefficient (intensity dependent index of refraction), a change in input intensity can cause light to be switched from one waveguide to the other at the output of
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R. H. Stolen
Russell Stephen D.
Stamnitz Timothy C.
Ngo John
Sikes William L.
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of
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