Optical frequency conversion device
AssigneeLucent Technologies Inc.
InventorRobert Meachem Jopson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for converting the frequency of an optical signal to form a frequency comb having a plurality of frequency spaced optical carriers. In one embodiment, a magnetooptic frequency conversion device is disclosed wherein the frequency of the optical signal is shifted by the frequency of an AC signal generating a magnetic field through a crystal. In another embodiment, acoustooptic scattering is used wherein an acoustic wave is provided to a waveguide which receives an optical signal so that the frequency of the optical signal is shifted by the frequency of the acoustic wave. In yet another embodiment, a single sideband modulator is used to shift the frequency of an optical signal.
Claims6
An optical apparatus for generating an optical frequency comb having a plurality of optical carrier frequencies each spaced apart from another by an offset frequency, said optical apparatus comprising:
- means for frequency translating an input optical signal having a first optical carrier frequency to an output optical signal having a second optical carrier frequency, said frequency translating means comprising a Bragg cell having a magnetic field propagating therethrough generated by an AC signal having an AC frequency, and wherein the second optical carrier frequency is one of the sum and difference of the first optical carrier frequency and said AC signal frequency;
- means for optically amplifying said output optical signal to define an amplified output optical signal;
- and
- means for optically recirculating a portion of said amplified output optical signal to said means for frequency translating as a recirculated input optical signal so that with repeated transits through said means for frequency translating, said recirculated input optical signal is both frequency translated and optically amplified to thereby generate an optical frequency comb.
An optical apparatus for generating an optical frequency comb having a plurality of optical carrier frequencies each spaced apart from another by an offset frequency, said optical apparatus comprising:
- means for frequency translating an input optical signal having a first optical carrier frequency to an output optical signal having a second optical carrier frequency, said frequency translating means comprising a waveguide having a length, an input port and an output port, said waveguide having an acoustic signal propagating therethrough in a direction substantially parallel to the waveguide length at an acoustic frequency and receiving said input optical signal at said input port and outputting said output optical signal from said output port, and wherein the second optical carrier frequency is one of the sum and difference of the first optical carrier frequency and said acoustic frequency;
- means for optically amplifying said output optical signal to define an amplified output optical signal;
- and
- means for optically recirculating a portion of said amplified output optical signal to said frequency translating means as a recirculated input optical signal so that with repeated transits through said means for frequency translating, said recirculated input optical signal is both frequency translated and optically amplified to thereby generate an optical frequency comb.
An optical apparatus for generating an optical frequency comb having a plurality of optical carrier frequencies each spaced apart from another by an offset frequency, said optical apparatus comprising:
- a single sideband modulator for frequency translating an input optical signal having a first optical carrier frequency to an output optical signal having a second optical carrier frequency;
- means for optically amplifying said output optical signal to define an amplified output optical signal;
- and
- means for optically recirculating a portion of said amplified output optical signal to said frequency translating means as a recirculated input optical signal so that with repeated transits through said means for frequency translating, said recirculated input optical signal is both frequency translated and optically amplified to thereby generate an optical frequency comb.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.