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Ultrafast waveform compression using a time-domain telescope

Nature Photonics volume 3, pages 581–585 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Photonic systems provide access to extremely large bandwidths, which can approach a petahertz1. Unfortunately, full utilization of this bandwidth is not achievable using standard electro-optical technologies, and higher (>100 GHz) performance requires all-optical processing with nonlinear-optical elements. A solution to the implementation of these elements in robust, compact and efficient systems is emerging in photonic integrated circuits, as evidenced by their recent application in various ultrahigh-bandwidth instruments2,3,4. These devices enable the characterization of extremely complex signals by linking the high-speed optical domain with slower speed electronics. Here, we extend the application of these devices beyond characterization and demonstrate an instrument that generates complex and rapidly updateable ultrafast optical waveforms. We generate waveforms with 1.5-ps minimum features by compressing lower-bandwidth replicas created with a 10 GHz electro-optic modulator. In effect, our device allows for ultrahigh-speed direct 270 GHz modulation using relatively low speed devices and represents a new class of ultrafast waveform generators.

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Figure 1: Temporal telescopic system.
Figure 2: Spectral and temporal outputs at different points in the temporal telescope.
Figure 3: Experimental demonstration of compression of 24-bit, 10 Gb s−1 packets to 270 Gb s−1.
Figure 4: Experimental demonstration of compression of analog waveforms.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by DARPA through the optical arbitrary waveform generation program and by the Center for Nanoscale Systems, supported by the NSF and the New York State Office of Science, Technology and Academic Research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, 14853, New York, USA

    Mark A. Foster, Reza Salem, Yoshitomo Okawachi & Alexander L. Gaeta

  2. School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, 14853, New York, USA

    Amy C. Turner-Foster & Michal Lipson

Authors
  1. Mark A. Foster
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  2. Reza Salem
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  3. Yoshitomo Okawachi
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  4. Amy C. Turner-Foster
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  6. Alexander L. Gaeta
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Contributions

M.A.F., R.S., and Y.O. performed the experiments. M.A.F conceived of the compressor design. A.C.T. and M.A.F. designed the photonic chips. A.C.T. fabricated the photonic chips. M.A.F. and A.L.G prepared the manuscript. A.L.G. and M.L. supervised the project.

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Correspondence to Alexander L. Gaeta.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Foster, M., Salem, R., Okawachi, Y. et al. Ultrafast waveform compression using a time-domain telescope. Nature Photon 3, 581–585 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2009.169

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