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US 5,434,700 AGranted
All-optical wavelength converter
AssigneeBell Communications Research, Inc.
InventorSung-Joo Yoo
Life of this patent
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AssigneeBell Communications Research, Inc.
InventorSung-Joo Yoo
Estimating the term…
An all-optical wavelength converter comprising an optical waveguide of regions having differing non-linear optical susceptibilities such that the regions are quasi phase matched. An optical pumping signal is introduced in the waveguide, either input from the outside or is locally generated from a lasing active layer in the waveguide. Light having a first frequency is input to the waveguide and interacts with the optical pumping signal via the non-linear susceptibility to create light having a second frequency. Each of the regions has a length of one coherence length. That is, the input light and the pump light fall out of phase by 180.degree. in one coherence length. The modulation of the non-linear susceptibility can be accomplished, by disordering the anisotropic material forming the non-linear waveguide, by inverting the anisotropic crystal structure, or by launching an acoustic wave onto the waveguide so that the compression of the material periodically varies the non-linearities. Semiconductor quorum wells provide a high degree of non-linearity, but lithium niobate and related materials can also be used.
A wavelength converter comprising an optical waveguide formed in a substate and having a plurality of sequential, periodic sets of regions of differing non-linear optical susceptibility to at least partially quasi phase match an interaction between a first optical signal at a first optical frequency, a second optical signal at a second optical frequency, and a third optical signal at a third optical frequency, said optical waveguide comprising an active optically lasing region lasing at said first optical frequency, whereby said first optical signal acts as a pumping signal to convert said second optical signal to said third optical signal.
A wavelength converter comprising an optical waveguide formed in a substrate and an acoustic transducer formed over said waveguide, an acoustic wave produced by said transducer producing a plurality of sequential, periodic sets of regions of differing non-linear optical susceptibility to at least partially quasi phase match an interaction between a first optical signal at a first optical frequency, a second optical signal at a second optical frequency, and a third optical signal at a third optical frequency, whereby said first optical signal acts as a pumping signal to convert said second optical signal to said third optical signal.
A wavelength converter comprising an optical waveguide formed in a substrate and having a plurality of sequential, periodic sets of regions of differing non-linear optical susceptibility to at least partially quasi phase match an interaction between a first optical signal at a first optical frequency, a second optical signal at a second optical frequency, and a third optical signal at a third optical frequency, said regions having differing respective crystalline structures, whereby said first optical signal acts as a pumping signal to convert said second optical signal to said third optical signal.
A wavelength converter comprising an optical waveguide formed in a substrate and having a plurality of sequential, periodic sets of regions of differing non-linear optical susceptibility to at least partially quasi phase match an interaction between a first optical signal at a first optical frequency, a second optical signal at a second optical frequency, and a third optical signal at a third optical frequency, said waveguide being formed of a semiconductor and comprising at least one quantum well, whereby said first optical signal acts as a pumping signal to convert said second optical signal to said third optical signal.
A communications network, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.