Abstract

Linear dispersion in optical fiber, while seen as a principle hindrance to high data rate optical communications, can be experimentally exploited to map the spectral components of a propagating optical waveform in time. The process is an analog to Fresnel or Fraunhofer diffraction fields in space and results in a similar transformation of a time-domain optical pulse after extended propagation in fiber (e.g., equivalent to the approximate Fourier transform realized under the Fraunhofer approximation) [1]. Recently, dispersion in single mode fiber has been reported as a means to assist in arbitrary RF-waveform generation [2]. We seek to extend the utility of dispersive fiber by performing RF signal analysis through manipulation of RF-modulated optical pulses.

© 2003 Optical Society of America