Spectral slicing of femtosecond pulses using semiconductor modulator arrays

Dan A. Yanson; Stewart D. McDougall; Ian Baker; John H. Marsh; Andreas Sizmann; Ronald Holzwarth; Michael Jost; Iain McKenzie; Michael Strain

doi:10.1117/12.761812

13 February 2008 Spectral slicing of femtosecond pulses using semiconductor modulator arrays

Dan A. Yanson, Stewart D. McDougall, Ian Baker, John H. Marsh, Andreas Sizmann, Ronald Holzwarth, Michael Jost, Iain McKenzie, Michael Strain

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 6877, Free-Space Laser Communication Technologies XX; 68770M (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.761812
Event: Lasers and Applications in Science and Engineering, 2008, San Jose, California, United States

Abstract

Unique properties of ultrashort laser pulses open new possibilities for broadband optical communications in both space and terrestrial systems. Spectral slicing offers a promising approach to wavelength multiplexing using a coherent broadband source such as a modelocked femtosecond laser. We have realized a free-space spectral slicing and transmission system, with a spectrally sliced modelocked laser delivering ~100 fs pulses at 806 nm as the "frequency comb" source. Spectral slicing was performed using monolithic arrays of electro-absorption modulators (EAM) fabricated from quantum-well GaAs/AlGaAs semiconductor material with a bandgap energy falling within the fs pulse spectrum. The array bars contained between 2 and 10 individually addressable EAM channels and were packaged into modules with cylindrical micro-optics for efficient coupling of light into and from the semiconductor waveguide. By performing absorption measurements as a function of wavelength and voltage bias on the EAM, we identified the spectral region where modulation depth was the largest. Wavelength slicing was achieved by fanning out the fs pulse beam with a diffraction grating and coupling it across the full width of the EAM array. A modulation depth >12 dB was achieved by probing adjacent spectral channels using ON/OFF keying. In summary, we have demonstrated spectral slicing of femtosecond pulses with EAM arrays for free-space communications. The technology can find use in other areas, e.g., instant chemical analysis and remote sensing, as EAMs can modulate both the intensity and phase of randomly selectable spectral channels, allowing complex spectra and waveforms to be generated in real time.

Citation Download Citation

Dan A. Yanson, Stewart D. McDougall, Ian Baker, John H. Marsh, Andreas Sizmann, Ronald Holzwarth, Michael Jost, Iain McKenzie, and Michael Strain "Spectral slicing of femtosecond pulses using semiconductor modulator arrays", Proc. SPIE 6877, Free-Space Laser Communication Technologies XX, 68770M (13 February 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.761812

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available

Members: $17.00

Non-members: $21.00 ADD TO CART

PROCEEDINGS
11 PAGES

DOWNLOAD PAPER SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

GET CITATION

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Get copyright permission Get copyright permission on Copyright Marketplace

KEYWORDS

Modulators

Modulation

Femtosecond phenomena

Diffraction gratings

Semiconductors

Absorption

Diffraction

Show All Keywords

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years