Chromomodal dispersion apparatus and methods
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsBahram Jalali, Todd Sienicki
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Abstract
A system and method to chromomodally generate dispersion in light waves. The system and method may be used to control dispersive effects of an optical element such as a single-mode fiber. A light beam from the optical element is first collimated and then directed on to a spatially diffractive element where it is spatially dispersed into various chromatic frequency components. This frequency-separated light is then imparted onto a dispersion slope equalizer, and then passed into a highly multimode waveguide, where it is further dispersed. The light is then collected and focused back into an outgoing fiber-optic or other optical device.
Claims37
An apparatus for chromatically dispersing a light wave, comprising:
- a spatially diffractive element;
- said spatially diffractive element configured to chromatically disperse the light wave into a plurality of spectral components;
- and
- a multimode waveguide coupled to the spatially diffractive element;
- wherein the multimode waveguide is configured to transform the dispersed light wave into a plurality of multimode waves;
- and
- wherein the plurality of multimode waves correspond to the plurality of spectral components.
An apparatus for controlling dispersive effects of a light wave traveling in an optical element;
- comprising:
- a spatially diffractive element;
- said spatially diffractive element configured to chromatically disperse the light wave into a plurality of spectral components;
- a multimode waveguide coupled to the spatially diffractive element;
- and
- a dispersion slope equalizer positioned between the spatially diffractive element and the multimode waveguide;
- wherein the multimode waveguide is configured to transform the dispersed light wave into a plurality of multimode waves;
- and
- wherein the plurality of multimode waves correspond to the plurality of spectral components.
A method for chromatically dispersing a light wave, comprising:
- directing the light wave at a spatially diffractive element;
- chromatically dispersing the light wave into a plurality of spectral components;
- and
- transforming the dispersed light wave into a plurality of multimode waves;
- wherein the plurality of multimode waves correspond to the plurality of spectral components.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.