Linear sampling and magnification technique based on phase modulators and dispersive elements: The temporal lenticular lens

Abstract

In this work, we exploit the space/time duality in optics to implement a temporal lenticular lens allowing to simultaneously sample and magnify an arbitrary-shaped optical signal. More specifically, by applying a sinusoidal phase-modulation, the signal under test is propagated through a discrete dispersive element that samples and magnifies its initial waveform. Thanks to this temporal lenticular lens, optical sampling associated to a magnification factor of 3.6 is experimentally demonstrated at a repetition rate of 10 GHz.

Ultrashort pulse generation from binary temporal phase modulation

“…Our numerical results demonstrate that binary phase modulation associated with a convenient spectral phase processing can be potentially involved in various applications such as ultrashort pulse generation 14 , optical sampling 41 or noiseless application scheme 42 . Combination with an additional stage of nonlinear compression taking advantage of the self‐phase modulation experienced in a nonlinear normally‐dispersive fiber can be explored to further decrease the temporal duration by up to one order of magnitude 43,44 .…”

Linear and Nonlinear Fiber Propagation of Partially Coherent Fields Exhibiting Temporal Correlations

“…[ 1‐4 ] Indeed, the temporal consequences of dispersion are formally identical to the spatial evolution of a 1D beam affected by diffraction. Given this powerful duality, numerous papers have reported the temporal analogs of well‐known optical systems processing coherent signals such as lenses, [ 2 ] lenticular lenses, [ 5 ] dispersion grating, [ 6 ] interference devices, [ 7 ] and recently the famous Arago spot formation. [ 8 ]…”

High‐repetition‐rate source delivering optical pulse trains with a controllable level of amplitude and temporal jitters

“…Another attractive solution is based on a direct temporal phase modulation that is then converted into an intensity modulation thanks to a quadratic spectral phase [4,5]. Picosecond pulses at repetition rates of several tens of GHz have been successfully demonstrated and such a source can be involved in optical sampling [6]. However, this approach suffers from a limited extinction ratio and from the presence of detrimental temporal sidelobes [7], so that a considerable part of the energy lies outside the main pulse.…”