Optically Digital Communication and Processing at the Quantum Limit
Abstract
A theoretical/experimental research program was undertaken to settle the fundamental limits of all-optical regeneration, switching, and time recovery, with the aim of quantifying the optimal performance and evaluating how low the signal can be tolerated before amplification/regeneration is necessary. Towards this goal the contractor performed a quantum-mechanical analysis of a nonlinear interferometer that achieves optical switching via cross-phase modulation resulting from the Kerr effect. Northwestern showed how this device performs as a very precise optical regenerator, highly improving the transmitted bit-error rate in the presence of loss. On the experimental side, they made progress on an ongoing experiment to measure the quantum noise properties of a nonlinear-fiber Sagnac interferometer. A dual polarization scheme was devised to suppress the guided acoustic-wave Brillouin scattering in the fiber that hampers measurement of the quantum noise. Initial test showed good suppression of the classical noise resulting from guided acoustic-wave Brillouin scattering.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA369155
Entities
People
- Horace Yuen
- Prem Kumar
Organizations
- Northwestern University