High-speed optical sampling by temporal stretching using four-wave mixing
US9291509B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 4, 2010 |
| Grant date | Mar 22, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 18, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01J11/00
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for ultrafast optical waveform sampling based on temporal stretching of an input signal waveform. Temporal stretching is performed using a time lens based on four-wave mixing in a nonlinear medium. The signal is passed through an input dispersive element. The dispersed signal is sent into the time lens, which comprises a chirped pump pulse and a nonlinear medium. The chirped pump pulse is combined with the signal. The four-wave mixing process occurs in the nonlinear device or medium, which results in the generation of a signal at a new optical frequency (idler). The idler is spectrally separated from the signal and pump pulse using a bandpass filter and sent into an output dispersive element. The output dispersive element is longer than the input dispersive element and the temporal stretching factor is given by the ratio between the dispersions of these two elements.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.