A novel optical system is taught including an optical source, an optical modulator having at least one optical input port for receiving the optical signal from the optical source, a modulation port for receiving the optical signal from the optical source, a modulation port for receiving a modulating signal, and complementary output port signals. The complementary modulated output signals are applied to one or more optical receivers at the other end of an optical transmission link. In one embodim...

A temporal imaging system is presented consisting of a dispersive input path, a phase modulator producing a phase modulation substantially equal to A+Bt.sup.2, and an output dispersive path. This temporal imaging system can be combined with other temporal lenses to image input signals in the same manner that spatial lenses can be used to image light from spatial sources. In particular, this temporal imaging system can be used to expand, compress and or invert input temporal signals.

A method of dynamically changing the measurement window and operating parameters of the instrument, based on intermediate results, in order to minimize the total time required to make a complete measurement. Also, a method of combining partial results from subwindows into a final result to be displayed that has not been corrupted by variation in system response due to time-varying operating parameters.

The invention discloses a general technique of taking advantage of the stability of the modulator transfer characteristic in order to correct for second and third order distortion. These objectives are achieved in a way compatible with the nature of the video distribution frequency formats. The method of this invention for linearizing the amplitude transfer characteristic of integrated optic devices for analog transmission is accomplished by injecting pilot signals, monitoring the harmonic and i...

A quasi-planar monolithic unidirectional ring laser is disclosed including an Nd:YAG crystal shaped so that a ring formed therein has an out-of-plane angle of about 1.degree.. The reflection opposite the output-coupling point on the front face is off the rear face. This arrangement provides for a very low pumping threshold and reduced magnetic field requirements. The disclosed laser can be pumped with a semiconductor laser and yield single mode 1.319 .mu.m and 1.338 .mu.m outputs suitable for fi...

An optical modulation system having cascade-coupled electro-optic modulator stages in either dual tandem or split tandem configurations. An electrical splitter derives multiple electrical drives for the multiple stages from a single modulating input signal. The multiple drive signals are linearly related in magnitude and preferably induce simultaneous antiphase (180.degree. out-of-phase) optical modulation in the tandem stages. While a double Mach-Zehnder cascade configuration could be used, at ...

A grating tuned laser system having an anamorphic optical section (72) that produces a line image on the grating (73). This system is insensitive to tilt of the grating (73) about an axis (T) perpendicular to the rulings (74) of the grating (73). An embodiment that utilizes a degenerate external cavity is also insensitive to small lateral misalignment of the optical elements.

Apparatus and method for determining dynamically the polarization vector direction, or polarization vector components and associated temporal phase angle, of a light beam. The apparatus includes a compact polarization beam splitter that receives a beam of light, separates the beam into two perpendicular polarization components and directs these components to a pair of optical detectors and associated circuits that form the sum and difference signals of the electrical signals produced by the opti...

A generalized frequency dependent predistortion circuit for nonlinear optic devices such as semiconductor lasers and light emitting diodes includes a pre-filter and post-filter associated with a linearizer (distorter). A multi-channel sub-carrier electrical signal is input to a splitter which provides on a primary path a signal to a time delay and hence to a coupler to the secondary paths. In the first secondary path, a pre-filter provides a signal to a second order distorter. This signal is the...

A sampler that can be used to sample optical or electrical signals, having an improved sensitivity-resolution product compared to conventional samplers. A coded switched electrode modulator has electrodes that produce polarity reversals in an applied voltage signal in accordance with a pseudorandom code having small sidelobes. An optical signal is injected into an optical waveguide that is oriented parallel to the electrodes. When the optical signal is proportional to the coded electrode pattern...