Temporal modes of electromagnetic radiation using nonlinear optical cavities and shaped laser pulses

A method, comprising:

• frequency shifting with a non-linear optical cavity a selected temporal mode component of a first field at a first frequency to a second field at a second frequency based on a time-dependence of a third field at a third frequency;
• wherein a cavity lifetime of the second field is longer than a cavity lifetime of the first field;
• wherein a rate of temporal variation of a first signal input associated with the first field is slower than the cavity lifetime of the first field.

An apparatus, comprising:

• means for receiving a first optical field in an optical cavity;
• and
• means for selectively converting a predetermined temporal mode component of the first optical field to a second optical field at a disjoint frequency in the optical cavity.