Method and system for generating a broadband spectral continuum and continuous wave-generating system utilizing same

A system for generating narrow band, continuous waves (CW) substantially simultaneously on multiple CW channels at multiple wavelengths and with channel spacing of at least 1 Ghz, the system comprising:

• a pulse generator including a single laser for generating pulses at a repetition rate greater than or equal to 1 Gb/s;
• an optical fiber including at least one pulse compression stage and a spectral shaping stage, the at least one pulse compression stage receiving the pulses at a first end of the fiber and the spectral shaping stage generating a broadband spectral continuum within the fiber and providing the broadband spectral continuum at a second end of the fiber, the continuum having a plurality of substantially uniform longitudinal modes each of which is a narrow band continuous wave in the time domain and wherein the modes are spectrally spaced based on the repetition rate;
• and
• at least one optical filter coupled to the second end of the fiber for spectrally-slicing the longitudinal modes from the broadband spectral continuum to obtain the continuous waves.

A method for generating a broadband spectral continuum, the method comprising:

• generating pulses at a repetition rate greater than or equal to 1 Gb/s;
• compressing the pulses in a temporal domain to obtain compressed pulses having a spectrum;
• and
• shaping the spectrum of the compressed pulses to obtain the broadband spectral continuum, the continuum having 100 or more substantially uniform longitudinal modes each of which is a narrow band continuous wave in the time domain and wherein the modes are spectrally spaced based on the repetition rate.

A method for generating a broadband spectral continuum as a transmitter, the method comprising:

• generating pulses at a repetition rate greater than or equal to 1 Gb/s;
• compressing the pulses in a temporal domain to obtain compressed pulses having a spectrum;
• shaping the spectrum of the compressed pulses to obtain the broadband spectral continuum, the continuum having a plurality of substantially uniform longitudinal modes each of which is a narrow band continuous wave in the time domain and wherein the modes are spectrally spaced based on the repetition rate;
• and
• coupling the continuum to a length of transmission fiber in a long-haul transmission system.

A method for generating a broadband spectral continuum as a transmitter, the method comprising:

• generating pulses at a repetition rate greater than or equal to 1 Gb/s;
• compressing the pulses in a temporal domain to obtain compressed pulses having a spectrum;
• shaping the spectrum of the compressed pulses to obtain the broadband spectral continuum, the continuum having a plurality of substantially uniform longitudinal modes each of which is a narrow band continuos wave in the time domain and wherein the modes are spectrally spaced based on the repetition rate;
• and
• coupling the continuum to a length of transmission fiber in a metropolitan area network.

A method for generating a broadband spectral continuum as a transmitter, the method comprising:

• generating pulses at a repetition rate greater than or equal to 1 Gb/s;
• compressing the pulses in a temporal domain to obtain compressed pulses having a spectrum;
• shaping the spectrum of the compressed pulses to obtain the broadband spectral continuum, the continuum having a plurality of substantially uniform longitudinal modes each of which is a narrow band continuous wave in the time domain and wherein the modes are spectrally spaced based on the repetition rate;
• and
• coupling the continuum to a length of transmission fiber in a local area network.

A method for generating a broadband spectral continuum as a transmitter, the method comprising:

• generating pulses at a repetition rate greater than or equal to 1 Gb/s;
• compressing the pulses in a temporal domain to obtain compressed pulses having a spectrum;
• shaping the spectrum of the compressed pulses to obtain the broadband spectral continuum, the continuum having a plurality of substantially uniform longitudinal modes each of which is a narrow band continuous wave in the time domain and wherein the modes are spectrally spaced based on the repetition rate;
• and
• coupling the continuum to a multiple wavelength testing system.