Testbed for Optical Signal Processing

Our testbed allows the experimental set up of complex optical subcomponents and their study as part of state-of-the art and beyond optical telecommunication systems.

Media and (nonlinear) processes

Different optical media and processes may be used for the realization of optical signal processing. Most of the applications listed above make use of interaction of light in nonlinear media. We have mature experience with nonlinear media like highly nonlinear fibers (HNLF), semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOA) and periodically-poled lithium niobate waveguides (PPLN).

Besides, we are interested in and may provide research on other media (e.g. silicon waveguides). Depending on the nonlinear media, different processes are utilized. Such processes are e.g. four-wave mixing (FWM), cross-phase modulation (XPM), self-phase modulation (SPM), cross-gain modulation (XGM), second-harmonic generation (SHG), sum-frequency generation (SFG), difference frequency generation (DFG).

Applications

  • Signal amplification
  • Phase/amplitude regeneration
  • Wavelength conversion
  • Amplitude limiting
  • Modulation format conversion
  • Ultra-fast switching, add-drop multiplexing
  • Logic functions
  • Clock-recovery
  • Phase conjugation
  • Tunable delay
  • Dispersion compensation
  • Nonlinearity compensation
  • Chirp-compensation
  • Short pulse generation/suppression
  • Ultra-dense multiplexing in time and frequency domain
  • Optical sampling and time-domain demultiplexing

Featured Measurement Types

  • Basic characterization with continuous-wave signals
  • Complex optical field analysis
  • Performance evaluation with data modulated signals
  • Performance evaluation in transmission experiments
  • Lab prototyping