Loading patent…
AssigneeUniversity of Rochester
InventorsNicholas George, Thomas W. Stone
Estimating the term…
Optical systems, using volume holographic elements (gratings) having geometries which tailor the spatio-temporal dispersion of the optical pulses for the system. The input optical pulse is characterized by a frequency variation across the temporal profile of the pulse. The various frequency components of this pulse are first dispersed by at least one grating which may be of the blazed reflection or holographic volume transmission type. The resultant dispersed light is then diffracted by a holographic volume grating which imparts the desired temporal dispersion characteristics to the pulse. The shape of the holographic element will vary according to the input pulse frequency profile as formed by varied chirping techniques. A grating stage may then be repeated, preferably with additional elements in mirror symmetry to the first or by retro-reflection, in order to recombine the spatially dispersed pulse components into an exiting pulse which may be of vastly compressed temporal profile. In optical dispersive delay lines, the grating geometry provides temporal dispersion which is a desired function of wavelength of the optical pulses.
An optical system for providing a predetermined spatial and temporal shape to the profile of an optical signal which has a spatial and temporal shape of its profile different from said predetermined shape, said system comprising a volume diffraction element upon which said optical signal is incident, in which said optical signal is diffracted, and from which said diffracted optical signal propagates to an output region, said element having a fringe pattern in the volume thereof, and said volume following a surface, shaped along curves selected from flat and arcuate shapes, which matches said spatial and temporal shape of the profile of said incident signal to said predetermined spatial and temporal shape at said output region, and wherein said fringe pattern is fixed in space to provide a predetermined angle between the incidence angle of said incident signal and the diffraction angle of said diffracted signal, and said element surface being curved independently with respect to said fixed fringe pattern in space to provide said match.
An optical system for providing a predetermined spatial and temporal shape to the profile of an optical signal which has a spatial and temporal shape of its profile different from said predetermined shape, said system comprising a volume diffraction element upon which said optical signal is incident, in which said optical signal is diffracted, and from which said diffracted optical signal propagates to an output region, said element having a fringe pattern in the volume thereof, and said volume following a surface, shaped along curves selected from flat and arcuate shapes, which matches the spatial and temporal shape of the profile of said incident signal to said predetermined spatial and temporal shape at said output region, and wherein said system is a delay line for said optical signal having a plurality of components of different wavelength, said output signal having said wavelength components as said output region which are delayed with respect to said incident signal and have delays corresponding to the curvature of the surface of said element.
An optical system for providing a predetermined spatial and temporal shape to the profile of an optical signal which has a spatial and temporal shape of its profile different from said predetermined shape, said system comprising a volume diffraction element upon which said optical signal is incident, in which said optical signal is diffracted, and from said diffracted optical signal propagates to an output region, said element having a fringe pattern in the volume thereof, and said volume following a surface, shaped along curves selected from that and arcuate shapes, which matches said spatial and temporal shape of the profile of said incident signal to said predetermined spatial and temporal shape at said output region, and wherein said element comprises a substrate having a surface with said curvature, and a medium having a fringe pattern in the volume thereof neighboring said surface.
An optical system for providing a predetermined spatial and temporal shape to the profile of an optical signal which has a spatial and temporal shape of its profile different from said predetermined shape, said system comprising a volume diffraction element upon which said optical signal is incident, in which said optical signal is diffracted, and from which said diffracted optical signal propagates to an output region, said element having a fringe pattern in the volume thereof, and said volume following a surface, shaped along curves selected from flat and arcuate shapes, which matches said spatial and temporal shape of the profile of said incident signal to said predetermined spatial and temporal shape at said output region, and wherein said system comprises a plurality of said diffracting elements in cascade, at least some of said elements being curved to provide said predetermined shape from the signal diffracted to said region by the last of said elements.
An optical system for providing a predetermined spatial and temporal shape to the profile of an optical signal which has a spatial and temporal shape of its profile different from said predetermined shape, said system comprising a volume diffraction element upon which said optical signal is incident, in which said optical signal is diffracted, and from which said diffracted optical signal propagates to an output region, said element having a fringe pattern in the volume thereof, and said volume following a surface, shaped along curves selected from flat and arcuate shapes, which matches said spatial and temporal shape of the profile of said incident signal to said predetermined spatial and temporal shape at said output region, and wherein said signal is an optical pulse and said system is operative to change the temporal profile of said optical pulse, and including at least one plurality of grating elements for dispersing said pulse into a collimated beam having components of different wavelength across the path of propagation thereof and for recombining said collimated beam to provide an output pulse having said changed profile.
An optical system providing a predetermined spatial and temporal shape to the profile of an optical signal which has a spatial and temporal shape of its profile different from said predetermined shape, said system comprising a volume diffraction element upon which said optical signal is incident, in which said optical signal is diffracted, and from which said diffracted optical signal propagates to an output region, said element having a fringe pattern in the volume thereof, and said volume following a surface, shaped along curves selected from flat and arcuate shapes, which matches said spatial and temporal shape of the profile of said incident signal to said predetermined spatial and temporal shape at said output region, and wherein a plurality of said elements are provided in cascade, and intermediate one of said elements in said plurality of elements defining the vertex and the remaining ones of said elements defining the base of a triangular configuration.
An optical system for providing a predetermined spatial temporal shape to the profile of an optical signal which has a spatial and temporal shape of its profile different from said predetermined shape, said system comprising a volume diffraction element upon which said optical signal is incident, in which said optical signal is diffracted, and from which said diffracted optical signals propagates to an output region, said element having a fringed pattern in the volume thereof, and said volume following a surface, shaped along curves selected from flat and arcuate shapes, which matches said spatial and temporal shape of the profile of said incident signal to said predetermined spatial and temporal shape at said output region, and wherein said system is a laser resonator having a gain medium, said element being disposed in said resonator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.