Spectral changes induced by a phase modulator acting as a time lens

Journal Article · Mon Jul 06 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Journal of the Optical Society of America. Part B, Optical Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1364/JOSAB.32.001550· OSTI ID:1197514

Plansinis, B. W. ^[1]; Donaldson, W. R. ^[2]; Agrawal, G. P. ^[3]

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1. Univ. of Rochester, Rochester, NY (United States). Inst. of Optics.
2. Univ. of Rochester, Rochester, NY (United States). Lab. for Laser Energetics
3. Univ. of Rochester, Rochester, NY (United States). Inst. of Optics; Univ. of Rochester, Rochester, NY (United States). Lab. for Laser Energetics.

We show both numerically and experimentally that a phase modulator, acting as a time lens in the Fourier-lens configuration, can induce spectral broadening, narrowing, or shifts, depending on the phase of the modulator cycle. These spectral effects depend on the maximum phase shift that can be imposed by the modulator. In our numerical simulations, pulse spectrum could be compressed by a factor of 8 for a 30 rad phase shift. Experimentally, spectral shifts over a 1.35 nm range and spectral narrowing and broadening by a factor of 2 were demonstrated using a lithium niobate phase modulator with a maximum phase shift of 16 rad at a 10 GHz modulation frequency. All spectral changes were accomplished without employing optical nonlinear effects such as self- or cross-phase modulation.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States). Lab. for Laser Energetics
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: NA0001944
• OSTI ID: 1197514
• Journal Information: Journal of the Optical Society of America. Part B, Optical Physics, Vol. 32, Issue 8; ISSN 0740-3224
• Publisher: Optical Society of America (OSA)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
optical processing devices
modulators