Ultrahigh-speed optical signal characterizaion for real-time evaluation and monitoring of photonics and electro-optic devices and systems

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This two-year Strategic Project is concerned with the development of a comprehensive set of simple andpractical tools for ultrahigh-speed optical signal characterization entirely adapted to a fiber-optics networkenvironment. The proposed theoretical and experimental research will allow the two university teams from theUniversity of Ottawa and the INRS-EMT, in collaboration with their non-academic partners, to lead Canadianand international efforts in searching for cost-effective, high-performance real-time optical signal monitoringsolutions of essential importance for the future deployment of ubiquitous, fully-reconfigurable optical andfiber-wireless "intelligent" networks. The proposed optical signal characterization toolset will be constructedfrom two different classes of optical pulse processing methods, namely 1) real-time optical Fouriertransformation based on optical fiber dispersion; and 2) ultrafast optical differentiation. Two importantdistinctive features of the techniques to be developed in this project are: 1) their implementation will be basedon simple, low-cost all-fiber linear optical filters, fully compatible with fiber optics and enabling trulyasynchronous in-line network operation; and 2) they will allow achieving single-shot optical signal/devicecharacterization, an essential feature for real-time optical monitoring in a practical network environment. Theflexibility of our design approach and the maturity of the photonics technologies in which our concepts can beimplemented may well lead to the cost/performance and mass-reproducible characteristics which areprerequisite to successful commercialization. Finally, the new knowledge generated from this project and thetraining of highly qualified personnel associated to the different stages of this work will certainly contribute toenhance Canada's global competitiveness, especially in high-technology sectors.