| As data rates for communication, signal processing, and optical sensing systems increase beyond 50 Gb/sec, ultra-fast optical pulse train generators will play a key role in their development. In this research, an all-fiber optical soliton pulse train generator is developed that operates at discrete rates from 50 to 400 Gb/sec with stable subpicosecond pulses. It is based on the following three novel fiber optic components: (1) all-fiber birefringence filter, (2) dual-wavelength fiber ring laser and (3) fiber-based soliton pulse train generation and compression stage.; A multi-segment birefringence comb filter is developed to provide discrete tuning of the free spectral range from 0.8 to 3.2 nm and continuous tuning of the absolute position of the transmission peaks over the entire free spectral range. Two, three and four segment filters are constructed and implemented in Lyot and Lyot-Sagnac filter configurations to demonstrate the tuning properties and provide compound filters for use in the dual-wavelength fiber ring laser. Theoretical transmission functions are derived for two-segment filters. The experimental results are in excellent agreement with theoretical models based on the Jones matrix technique.; The dual-wavelength laser consists of a PM amplifier, the tunable birefringence filter and a high-Q filter based on saturable absorber properties of un-pumped Erbium-doped fiber. Tunable compound birefringence filters are designed to operate the dual-wavelength laser over the entire erbium amplifier gain region (1530 to 1565 nm) with discrete tuning of the channel separation from 0.8 to 3.2 nm. Stable tunable dual-wavelength single-longitudinal mode operation is demonstrated and initial laser properties such as dual-relaxation oscillations, laser linewidth, polarization, and multi-wavelength stability are characterized.; Induced modulation instability in optical fiber is used to generate pulse trains from the fiber ring laser output signal. Through modeling, the pulse train generation and compression stage is optimized to operate from 50 to 400 GHz and generate high-quality soliton pulse trains. The optimal design uses a linear decreasing dispersion fiber for pulse train generation and a nonlinear optical loop mirror for removing pedestal energy. Multi-rate optical pulse train generation is experimentally demonstrated from 70 to 400 GHz using the tunable fiber ring laser and dispersion-shifted fiber. |
