Optical apparatus which uses a virtually imaged phased array to produce chromatic dispersion

An apparatus having a top view and comprising:

• an angular dispersive component having a passage area to receive light into, and to output light from, the angular dispersive component, the angular dispersive component receiving, through the passage area, an input light having a respective wavelength within a continuous range of wavelengths, and causing multiple reflection of the input light to produce self-interference that forms an output light traveling from the angular dispersive component and thereby traveling from a respective surface of the angular dispersive component, the output light being spatially distinguishable from an output light formed for an input light having any other wavelength within the continuous range of wavelengths;
• a light returning device which receives the output light from the angular dispersive component and returns the output light to said surface of the angular dispersive component, and thereby to the angular dispersive component, to undergo multiple reflection in the angular dispersive component and then be output from the angular dispersive component through the passage area;
• and
• a lens positioned so that
• the output light travels from the angular dispersive component to the light returning device by traveling from the angular dispersive component to the lens and then being focused by the lens to the light returning device,
• the output light returns from the light returning device to the angular dispersive component by traveling from the light returning device to the lens and then being directed by the lens to the angular dispersive component, and
• the output light traveling from the angular dispersive component to the lens is perpendicular to said surface of the angular dispersive component in the top view, and the returned output light traveling from the lens to the angular dispersive component is perpendicular to said surface of the angular dispersive component in the top view.

An apparatus comprising:

• a virtually imaged phased array (VIPA) generator which receives an input light and produces a corresponding output light propagating away from the VIPA generator;
• a mirror;
• and
• a lens which focuses the output light onto the mirror so that the mirror reflects the output light, the reflected light being directed by the lens back to the VIPA generator,
• wherein the mirror is shaped so that the apparatus provides a constant chromatic dispersion.

An apparatus comprising:

• an angular dispersive component having a passage area to receive light into, and to output light from, the angular dispersive component, the angular dispersive component receiving, through the passage area, an input light having a respective wavelength within a continuous range of wavelengths, and causing multiple reflection of the input light to produce self-interference that forms an output light travelling from the angular dispersive component and which is spatially distinguishable from an output light formed for an input light having any other wavelength within the continuous range of wavelengths;
• a mirror;
• and
• a lens which focuses the output light formed by the angular dispersive component to the mirror, wherein
• the mirror reflects the focused light back to the lens and the lens directs the reflected output light back to the angular dispersive component so that the reflected output light undergoes multiple reflection in the angular dispersive component and is then output from the angular dispersive component through the passage area, and
• the mirror is shaped so that the apparatus provides a constant chromatic dispersion.

An apparatus having a top view and comprising:

• first and second surfaces, the second surface having a reflectivity which causes a portion of light incident thereon to be transmitted therethrough, where
• an input light at a respective wavelength is focused into a line, and
• the first and second surfaces are positioned so that the input light radiates from the line to be reflected a plurality of times between the first and second surfaces and thereby cause a plurality of lights to be transmitted through the second surface, the plurality of transmitted lights interfering with each other to produce an output light traveling from the second surface and which is spatially distinguishable from an output light produced for an input light at a different wavelength;
• a light returning device which returns the output light to the second surface so that the output light passes through the second surface and undergoes multiple reflection between the first and second surfaces;
• and
• a lens positioned so that
• the output light travels from the second surface to the light returning device by traveling from the second surface to the lens and then being focused by the lens to the light returning device,
• the output light returns from the light returning device to the second surface by traveling from the light returning device to the lens and then being directed by the lens to the second surface, and
• the output light traveling from the second surface to the lens is perpendicular to the second surface in the top view, and the returned output light traveling from the lens to the second surface is perpendicular to the second surface in the top view.

An apparatus having a top view and comprising:

• generating means for receiving an input light at a respective wavelength and for producing a corresponding output light propagating away from the generating means in a direction determined by the wavelength of the input light, the output light thereby propagating away from a respective surface of the generating means;
• returning means for returning the output light back to said surface of the generating means, and thereby returning the output light back to the generating means;
• and
• a lens positioned so that
• the output light travels from the generating means to the returning means by traveling from the generating means to the lens and then being focused by the lens to the returning means,
• the output light returns from the returning means to the generating means by traveling from the returning means to the lens and then being directed by the lens to the generating means, and
• the output light traveling from the generating means to the lens is perpendicular to said surface of the generating means in the top view, and the returned output light traveling from the lens to the generating means is perpendicular to said surface of the generating means in the top view.

An apparatus receiving an input light at a respective wavelength and focused into a line, the apparatus having a top view and comprising:

• first and second surfaces spaced apart from each other;
• means for causing the input light to radiate from the line to be reflected a plurality of times between the first and second surfaces and thereby cause a plurality of lights to be transmitted through the second surface, and for causing the transmitted lights to interfere with each other to produce an output light traveling away from the second surface and which is spatially distinguishable from an output light produced for an input light at a different wavelength;
• returning means for returning the output light to the second surface so that the returned output light passes through the second surface and undergoes multiple reflection between the first and second surfaces;
• and
• a lens positioned so that
• the output light travels from the second surface to the returning means by traveling from the second surface to the lens and then being focused by the lens to the returning means,
• the output light returns from the returning means to the second surface by traveling from the returning means to the lens and then being directed by the lens to the second surface, and
• the output light traveling from the second surface to the lens is perpendicular to the second surface in the top view, and the returned output light travelling from the lens to the second surface is perpendicular to the second surface in the top view.

An apparatus comprising:

• an angular dispersive component having a passage area to receive light into, and to output light from, the angular dispersive component, the angular dispersive component receiving, through the passage area, an input light focused into a line and having a respective wavelength, and causing multiple reflection of the input light to produce self-interference that forms an output light traveling from the angular dispersive component and which is spatially distinguishable from an output light formed for an input light having a different wavelength;
• a mirror;
• and
• a lens which focuses the output light formed by the angular dispersive component to the mirror, wherein
• the mirror reflects the focused light back to the lens and the lens directs the reflected output light back to the angular dispersive component so that the reflected output light undergoes multiple reflection in the angular dispersive component and is then output from the angular dispersive component through the passage area, and
• the mirror is shaped so that the apparatus provides a constant chromatic dispersion.