CAREER: Modules for Fiber Optic Communication Systems

光纤对于许多新兴的光学技术是必不可少的，包括通信系统、数据处理、视频传输和计算。使用引导光子实现的带宽和数据速率比使用电子或微波技术的可比系统大几个数量级。光纤是廉价的低损耗波导，并表现出非线性类型，可用于制造超快全光开关器件，脉冲光纤激光器，多路复用器和解路复用器，以及用于光纤通信系统的各种定时控制模块。多千兆位速率的长途和局域光纤通信网络不可避免地需要时域多路复用（TDM）和波长（频）分多路复用（WDM）技术的结合。时分复用可用于减少频率通道的数量，允许WDM通道在载波频率放置和滤波器要求方面有更宽的容差。我们的目标是研究结合超快时域技术和波分复用功能的新型光纤模块。我们建议在孤子和零色散状态下建立超高比特率飞秒光纤激光器。该方法是基于脉冲形成的非线性特性，包括频率选择和移位，以及时分复用应用，如超高比特率解复用和数据检索。我们提出的一种新技术已被证明可以在主动锁模激光器中产生相当大的脉冲缩短，超出了主动锁模理论预测的脉冲宽度。该方法基于脉冲在孤子或负色散状态下形成和传播的非线性特性，与以往基于快速光纤非线性概念设计的锁模激光器和开关器件相比，具有简单的优点。最初的工作将集中在开发新型光纤激光源，用于1.5p的高比特率脉冲。上午和下午1点3分。然后将对激光器进行修改，以产生用于波分复用应用的载频可调脉冲串。我们将使用脉冲流来测试在类似机制下工作的移频模块。接下来，将演示时分复用解复用器和超快速数据检索器。最后，将展示集成光纤激光源、WDM和TDM器件的完整系统原型实现。该研究的成功完成将对光纤通信技术的研究和开发工作产生重大影响。该研究计划解决了将WDM功能与高比特率孤子源和交换机集成的问题，对未来的高容量光通信网络具有毫无疑问的价值。从我们的研究成果中获益的两个特别重要的领域是长途通信系统和地面光纤环路网络。结合我们提出的用于长途通信的孤子器件的开发，我们将应用相同的非线性建模锁相原理，在零色散波长（波长接近1.3p）处使用掺pr光纤放大器构建高比特率短脉冲。m提出的教学和教育计划将涉及以下目标：(1)开发新的光电工程课程，将从光纤研究的爆炸性进展中获得的新知识纳入本科和研究生课程；(2)增加本科生对当前研究工作的参与，为独立思考和新发现的兴奋奠定基础；(3)促进女性参与工程研究活动；特别鼓励中学生和大一学生，并且(4)培养研究生更广泛的实验技术，而不是通常局限于特定论文研究主题的经验。本科生将通过监督论文和独立项目在新的光纤实验室设施中提供研究机会。增加女性在工程研究中的参与将通过一个特别的暑期项目来完成，该项目旨在为高中和大学新生提供实验室经验。学生将接触到一个科研环境，并获得什么职业生涯在工程研究需要第一手的看法。将包括导师支持，以跟踪个别女学生在大学课程中的进展情况。技术的日益复杂需要研究生进一步专业化，他们希望为该领域的发展做出贡献。这种循环剥夺了研究生获得在当今快速变化的高科技经济中成功职业所需的重要的广泛经验。为了提高研究生的经验，更好地为他们识别和解决未来的研究问题做好准备，将实施研究“轮转”制度。* * *

9502491 Bergman Optical fibers are essential to many emerging optical technologies, including communication systems, data processing, video transmission, and computing. The bandwidths and data rates achievable using guided photons are several orders of magnitude greater than comparable systems using electronic or microwave technologies. Fibers are inexpensive low-loss waveguides, and exhibit the type of nonlinearities which can be exploited in making ultrafast all-optical switching devices, pulsed fiber lasers, multiplexers and demultiplexers, as well as various timing control modules for fiber optic communication systems. Long-haul and local area fiber optic communication networks as multigigabit-rates will inevitably be done by a combination of time domain multiplexing (TDM) and wavelength (frequency) division multiplexing (WDM) techniques. TDM can be used to reduce the number of frequency channels allowing the WDM channels broader tolerances in carrier frequency placement and filter requisites. Our objective is to investigate novel fiber optic modules that incorporate ultrafast time domain techniques with WDM functions. We propose to build ultrahigh bit-rate femtosecond fiber lasers in both the soliton and zero dispersion regimes. The method is based on the nonlinear properties of pulse formation including frequency selection and shifting, as well as TDM applications such as ultra-high bit-rate demultiplexing and data retrieval. A new technique we propose to use has been shown to generate considerable pulse shortening in actively modelocked lasers beyond the predicted pulsewidths from active modelocking theory. The method is based on the nonlinear properties on pulse formation and propagation in the soliton or negative dispersion regime, and has the great advantage of simplicity over previous modelocked lasers and switching devices that were designed based on fast fiber nonlinearities concepts. The initial work will focus on developing novel fiber optic laser sources for hi gh bit-rate pulses at both 1.5p.m and 1.3p.m. The lasers will then be modified to produce carrier frequency tunable pulse trains for WDM applications. We will use the pulse streams to test a frequency shifting module operating on similar mechanisms. Next, a TDM demultliplexer and a ultrafast data retriever will be demonstated. Finally, a complete system prototype implementation that integrates the fiber laser source, WDM and TDM devices will be demonstrated. The successful completion of the proposed research will have significant impact on research and development efforts in fiber optic communication technology. This proposed research program addresses the issue of integrating WDM capabilities with high bit-rate soliton sources and switches, and will be unquestionable value to future high capacity optical communication networks. Two particularly important fields positioned to gain from our research efforts are long-haul communication systems and terrestrial fiber loop networks. In conjuction with our proposed development of soliton devices for long-haul communication, we will apply the same nonlinear modelocking principles to the construction of high bit-rate short pules with Pr-doped fiber amplifiers at the zero dispersion wavelength wavelength near 1.3p.m The teaching and educational plans proposed will enter about the following objectives: (1) develop a new optoelectronic engineering curriculum, incorporating into both, the undergraduate and graduate courses, new knowledge gained from the explosive recent advancements in fiber optics research, (2) increase involvement of undergraduate students in current research efforts to build a foundation for independent thinking and excitement for new discovery, (3) facilitate participation of women in engineering research activities, with particular encouragement for students at the secondary school and freshman year levels, and (4) train graduate students in broader experimental techniques that the normal confined experience dictated by a specific thesis research topic: Research opportunities for undergraduates will be provided in the n new fiber optic laboratory facilities through supervision of theses and independent projects. Increased participation of women in engineering research will be accomplished by a special summer program aimed at offering laboratory experience to senior high school and college freshman students. The students will be exposed to a scientific research environment and obtain a first hand view of what a career in engineering research entails. Mentor support will be included to follow progress of individual female students through their university curriculum. The increasing complexity of technology necessitates further specialization by graduate students who desire to contribute to the field's advancement . This loop deprives graduate students from gaining the important broad range of experiences that are required for successful careers in today's rapidly changing high tech economy. To enhance the graduate students experience and better prepare them to identify and solve future research problems, a research "rotation" system will be implemented. ***