All-optical signal processing method and device

Abstract

A method and an optical device in all-optical signal processing. It provides a novel way of taking into use the potential bandpass filtering capabilities of an optical complex one-pole resonator by, 1) excitating with at least part of the input signal an optical resonator arrangement that comprises two substantially parallel, independent, complex one-pole resonators arranged in a manner that one of the resonators is matched, and the other one is non-matched with the input signal, and 2) based on polarization separating further from the output of the optical resonator arrangement at least one optical output signal so that both the matched and non-matched resonators contribute to the formation of the output signal. The method and device can be utilized, for example, for optical signal analysis, optical clock recovery, or for producing high-frequency outputs from lower frequency input signals, like e.g. optical microwave generation.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a method in optical signal processing and to an optical device for carrying out said method. More particularly, the invention relates to all-optical filters based on an optical resonator arrangement, which has a capacity to store temporally the electromagnetic energy of the incoming light and therefore has some memory about its past so that the filter can stay on a desired state for some time regardless of fast perturbations on the optical input signal. Such a filter may be referred to as a “slow” all-optical filter. The invention can be utilized, for example, for optical signal analysis, optical clock recovery, or for producing high-frequency outputs from lower frequency input signals, like e.g. optical microwave generation. DEFINITIONS [0002] The frequency of light is typically understood as the inverse of the wavelength of the electromagnetic field, i.e. ν=c / (nλ), where ν is the frequency, c is the speed of light in vacuu...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention is a method for processing optical signals using a resonator arrangement with two parallel, independent resonators that are matched and non-matched with the input signal. This arrangement allows for the separation of linearly polarized output signals from the resonators. The method can be used in applications that require the processing of multiple wavelength channels simultaneously. The invention provides a simple and cost-effective way to build optical devices that can handle multiple wavelengths simultaneously. It also offers the advantage of not requiring the use of any optically active medium or laser source. The method can be used for all-optical clock recovery, which is a promising application of the invention. Overall, the invention offers a flexible and efficient way to process optical signals."

Problems solved by technology

The conversions forth and back generate also additional cost and possibly degrade optical signal quality.

The device is, however, very limited in its capabilities to process more than one wavelength (or WDM channel) at time.

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