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Demonstration of sharp switching from a power-symmetric NOLM and a polarizer
- Source :
- Optics Communications. 271:543-550
- Publication Year :
- 2007
- Publisher :
- Elsevier BV, 2007.
-
Abstract
- We demonstrate theoretically, experimentally and numerically that a steep all-optical transfer characteristic can be obtained from a power-symmetric NOLM, including a quarter wave retarder and highly twisted fibre, followed by a polarizer. We first develop a theoretical analysis to show that, if the input polarisation is chosen linear, then for a correct choice of the wave plate and input polarisation angles the transmission grows from zero with a 4 dB/dB slope as power is increased, two times faster than can be obtained with a NOLM alone. An experimental study is then realised, which supports the theoretical results. Steep switching is demonstrated for reasonably low peak power levels that do not exceed 8 W, less than one third of the NOLM critical power. In addition, using the same setup we demonstrate the possibility to obtain a sinusoidal transmission characteristic that cancels out for a particular nonzero value of input power, which can be easily adjusted simply through rotation of the wave plate and output polarizer. This setup would be very useful in the frame of optical pulse shaping and signal processing applications, among others.
- Subjects :
- Physics
Signal processing
business.industry
Optical communication
Polarizer
Waveplate
Pulse shaping
Optical switch
Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
Power (physics)
law.invention
Optics
Transmission (telecommunications)
law
Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
business
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 00304018
- Volume :
- 271
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Optics Communications
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi...........e81fd16491c0f3ba53679802f08dde87