Fast variable optical delay
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsKatherine L. Hall, Hosain Hakimi, Farhad Hakimi, Daniel T. Moriarty, Kristin A. Rauschenbach
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Abstract
A method introduces variable time offsets into a stream of optical pulses. The method includes receiving a plurality of coherent optical pulses, receiving a plurality of control signals, and forming a coherent pulse array (CPA) from each pulse in response to one of the received control signals. Temporal spacings between pulses of each CPA are responsive to the associated one of the received control signals. For optical control signals, response times can be very short. The method further includes transmitting each pulse through a dispersive optical medium. The act of transmitting makes pulses of each CPA overlap to form an interference pattern.
Claims8
A method to introduce variable time offsets into a stream of optical pulses, comprising:
- receiving a plurality of optical pulses;
- receiving a plurality of control signals;
- forming a coherent pulse array (CPA) from each optical pulse, temporal spacings between pulses of each CPA being responsive to one of the received control signals;
- and
- transmitting each pulse through a dispersive optical medium, the transmitting making pulses of each CPA overlap to form an interference pattern.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.