Transmission of signal and idler using optical parametric amplifier based on PPLN waveguide.

In this study, we attempted the repeated transmission of S-band signals by compensating for the loss of the transmission fiber using an optical parametric amplifier (OPA) based on a periodically poled LiNbO3 waveguide. We examined and compared the two configurations. The first method involved wavelength conversion of the signal to an idler, while the second method amplified the signal itself. In the latter case, we demonstrated repeated transmissions using external dispersion compensation. In the former case, we demonstrated that it was possible not only to compensate for fiber loss but also to reduce the accumulation of dispersion in transmission fibers by utilizing spectral inversion.

Broadband optical parametric amplification using PPLN waveguide pumped by detuned second harmonic.

Optical parametric amplification in the range of 1.3-1.8 µm was demonstrated by using a periodically poled LiNbO3 (PPLN) waveguide as a nonlinear medium by varying the detuning of the pump wavelength. A wide range of detuning was enabled by using a multiple-quasi-phase-matched (M-QPM) LiNbO3 waveguide for pump generation through second harmonic generation (SHG) and temperature control of the PPLN waveguide. Broadband optical amplification and wavelength conversion through difference frequency generation (DFG) are considered useful for widening the bandwidth of optical communication.

Parametric wavelength conversion with bidirectional utilization of a multiple QPM device.

A configuration for wavelength conversion and optical amplification by parametric interaction using a nonlinear optical device is proposed. It enables pump generation through second harmonic generation (SHG), difference frequency generation (DFG), and optical parametric amplification (OPA) using a multiple-quasi-phase-matched (M-QPM) LiNbO3 waveguide in a bidirectional manner. Wavelength conversion for the 1.4-1.6 µm band is experimentally demonstrated. In addition, it is demonstrated that the parametric gain band can be changed using various detunings between the pump and QPM wavelengths used for the DFG/OPA process. The proposed method would be useful for enabling high-capacity optical transmission outside the 1550-nm band.

Multiple optical carrier generation using frequency mixing in damage resistant multiple QPM device.

We devised a method for the measurement of the phase-matching curve of multiple quasi-phase-matched (QPM) LiNbO3 waveguide under conditions of high-power second-harmonic generation. The data obtained revealed that the phase-matching condition can be preserved due to the high damage resistance of the directly bonded LiNbO3 waveguide. Based on this evaluation, we tried to generate multiple optical carriers using multi-stage frequency mixing in the multiple QPM device. The multiple optical carriers have mutual phase correlation, which is suitable for coherent wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) transmission. We also demonstrated 20 Gb/s quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) signal generation using multiple optical carriers in order to ensure signal quality.

Integrated quasi-phase-matched second-harmonic generator and electro-optic phase modulator for low-noise phase-sensitive amplification.

We propose a quasi-phase-matched second-harmonic generator integrated with an electro-optic phase modulator in a directly bonded LiNbO3 (DB-LN) waveguide to obtain high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) pump light for a phase-sensitive amplifier (PSA). This integrated device exhibits 1-MHz modulation and 1-W second-harmonic-generation properties sufficient for phase-locking between the signal and pump and for PSA gain, respectively. A novel PSA configuration based on the high-input-power tolerance of the device helps to suppress the noise from the erbium-doped fiber amplifier used for pump-light generation and leads to an improvement of the SNR of the pump light. The SNR improvement was confirmed by comparing the noise figure of a PSA employing the DB-LN waveguide with that of a PSA using a Ti-diffused LN waveguide modulator.

In-line phase-sensitive amplification of QPSK signal using multiple quasi-phase matched LiNbO3 waveguide.

Phase-sensitive amplifiers (PSA) using periodically poled (PPLN) LiNbO3 waveguides are promising as low-noise optical amplifiers. However, it is difficult to realize in-line operation for multi-level phase modulated signals using a PPLN based PSA with the conventional configuration. In this paper, we report a PPLN based in-line PSA that can regenerate quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) signals. Multi-stage frequency mixing in a multiple quasi-phase matched LiNbO3waveguide allows carrier phase recovery from a QPSK signal. Non-degenerate parametric amplification enables the phase-sensitive amplification of a QPSK signal. Amplitude and phase regeneration is examined utilizing gain saturation and phase squeezing capability.

Properties of power dependence on low-crosstalk waveband conversion with an apodized multiperiod-QPM LiNbO3 device.

Quasi-phase-matched (QPM) LiNbO3 devices having a multiperiod-periodically-poled structure, which we call multiperiod-QPM LiNbO3 devices, are capable of shifting the idler waveband during waveband conversion via cascaded difference-frequency generation (cascaded DFG). However, these multiperiod-QPM devices have a problem that they produce extra ripples between QPM peaks in the phase-matching curve. These ripples cause crosstalk between wavebands arising from sum-frequency generation (SFG) between the signal and idler wavebands and subsequent DFG between the SFG wavelength and the signal waveband. To decrease the size of the ripples and thus that of the crosstalk, an apodized multiperiod-QPM device is developed. In demonstrating waveband conversion for low crosstalk with this device, we measure the dependence of the idler power, the crosstalk power, and their ratio on the signal power. This measurement shows that it agrees well with theoretical prediction and that the obtained feature of crosstalk reduction is kept even for decreased signal power.

Carrier-envelope offset locking with a 2f-to-3f self-referencing interferometer using a dual-pitch PPLN ridge waveguide.

We demonstrate that a 2f-to-3f self-referencing interferometer (SRI) becomes a useful tool for stabilizing a carrier-envelope offset frequency of an Er-doped fiber laser. A dual-pitch periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) ridge waveguide, consisting of two monolithically integrated segments with different quasi-phase matching pitch sizes, allows us to generate third-harmonic light with high efficiency. By using this device, we obtain a 45-dB signal-to-noise ratio in 100-kHz bandwidth of a heterodyne beat signal and instability of the in-loop f CEO of 8 × 10(-18) at 1 s of averaging time. This result is important for f CEO stabilization of a frequency comb, for which it is difficult to obtain a one-octave supercontinuum spectrum.

Entanglement distribution over 300 km of fiber.

We report the distribution of time-bin entangled photon pairs over 300 km of optical fiber. We realized this by using a high-speed and high signal-to-noise ratio entanglement generation/evaluation setup that consists of periodically poled lithium niobate waveguides and superconducting single photon detectors. The observed two-photon interference fringes exhibited a visibility of 84%. We confirmed the violation of Bell's inequality by 2.9 standard deviations.

Real-time N2O gas detection system for agricultural production using a 4.6-µm-band laser source based on a periodically poled LiNbO3 ridge waveguide.

This article describes a gas monitoring system for detecting nitrous oxide (N2O) gas using a compact mid-infrared laser source based on difference-frequency generation in a quasi-phase-matched LiNbO3 waveguide. We obtained a stable output power of 0.62 mW from a 4.6-µm-band continuous-wave laser source operating at room temperature. This laser source enabled us to detect atmospheric N2O gas at a concentration as low as 35 parts per billion. Using this laser source, we constructed a new real-time in-situ monitoring system for detecting N2O gas emitted from potted plants. A few weeks of monitoring with the developed detection system revealed a strong relationship between nitrogen fertilization and N2O emission. This system is promising for the in-situ long-term monitoring of N2O in agricultural production, and it is also applicable to the detection of other greenhouse gases.

In-line phase sensitive amplifier based on PPLN waveguides.

We demonstrate a χ(2)-based in-line PSA with a carrier-recovery and phase-locking system for a phase shift keying (PSK) signal. By doubling the signal phase using a wavelength conversion technique, the carrier was recovered from a PSK signal. The carrier phase was synchronized to a local oscillator using optical injection locking. Phase sensitive amplification with a wide phase sensitive dynamic range of 20 dB was achieved using degenerate parametric amplification in a periodically poled LiNbO(3) (PPLN) waveguide. The phase regeneration effect was examined for a degraded signal by means of constellation analyses and bit-error rate measurements. The in-line PSA also operated successfully as a repeater amplifier in a 160 km fiber link without a power penalty. Finally, we demonstrate the regeneration of non-linear impairments induced by fiber non-linearity.

3-dB signal-ASE beat noise reduction of coherent multi-carrier signal utilizing phase sensitive amplification.

We demonstrated the simultaneous amplification of a coherent multi-carrier signal using a χ(2)-based non-degenerate phase sensitive amplifier (PSA). The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), which is degraded by the additional amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) noise, can be recovered due to the gain difference between a phase-correlated signal-idler pair and uncorrelated excess noise. Utilizing the second harmonic pumping of a χ(2)-based PSA enables us to observe the SNR recovery directly by comparing the SNR for the input with that for the PSA output. A 3-dB optical-SNR (OSNR) improvement was obtained as a result of the gain difference. We also achieved a 3-dB SNR improvement in the electric domain by reducing the signal-ASE beat noise. The receiver sensitivity for a 10 Gbit/s phase shift keying signal was clearly improved with the PSA.

Phase sensitive amplification with noise figure below the 3 dB quantum limit using CW pumped PPLN waveguide.

The noise figure (NF) of a phase sensitive amplifier (PSA) based on a periodically poled LiNbO3 (PPLN) waveguide was evaluated in the optical and electrical domains. Phase sensitive amplification was realized using degenerate parametric amplification in the PPLN waveguide, which was pumped by the second harmonic frequency of the signal. Second harmonic pumping enables direct observation of the intrinsic amplified spontaneous emission (ASE), which determined the NF of the PSA. An NF below the 3 dB quantum limit was obtained by observing the intrinsic ASE. The low NF was also confirmed via the noise floor measurement of a cascaded PSA and erbium doped fiber amplifier in the electrical domain. The PSA was used as a preamplifier for detecting a 40 Gbit/s phase shift keying signal. The low noise characteristics were confirmed by the improved sensitivity.

Phase sensitive degenerate parametric amplification using directly-bonded PPLN ridge waveguides.

We constructed the first CW pumped degenerate parametric amplifier based on periodically poled and ZnO-doped LiNbO3 ridge waveguides. An in-phase gain of + 11 dB was achieved owing to the high conversion efficiency and high damage resistance of the waveguide obtained by employing direct bonding and dry etching techniques. Nearly identical amplification and deamplification were obtained owing to a sufficient spatial and temporal overlap between the pump and signal beams. No secondary wavelength conversion process was observed, and a maximum output of 22 dBm was obtained. We also successfully demonstrated the phase sensitive amplification of a modulated signal light.

Phase-transparent flexible waveband conversion of 43 Gb/s RZ-DQPSK signals using multiple-QPM-LN waveguides.

We report phase-transparent waveband conversion with polarization insensitivity based on second harmonic (SH) wave pumped difference frequency generation (DFG) using multiple-quasi-phase-matched LiNbO(3) (QPM-LN) waveguides. Flexible waveband conversion is demonstrated over the entire C-band using a tunable DFB-LD array (TLA) as a pump source for a multiple-QPM-LN waveguide. The penalty free waveband conversion of 43 Gb/s return-to-zero differential quadrature phase-shift-keying (RZ-DQPSK) waveband signals is successfully achieved.

Generation of time-bin entangled photon pairs by cascaded second-order nonlinearity in a single periodically poled LiNbO(3) waveguide.

Entangled photon pairs are one of the most important resources for the development of quantum communication technologies. In order to produce pulsed photon pairs in the telecommunication band from 1.5 mum pump light, most of the previous experiments used two successive periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) waveguides. We report what we believe to be a new method using cascaded second-order nonlinearity in a single PPLN waveguide to produce high-purity time-bin entangled photon pairs. We confirmed the generation of entanglement through a two-photon interference experiment showing a coincidence fringe with a visibility of up to 97%.

Apodized multiple quasi-phase-matched LiNbO3 device for low-cross-talk waveband conversion.

We developed an apodized multiple quasi-phase-matched (QPM) LiNbO(3) device to reduce the cross talk that occurs during waveband conversion. Since we found that the cross talk arises from ripples between multiple QPM peaks in the phase-matching curve, we reduced the amplitude of the ripples by employing the apodized structure. Using this device, we succeeded in demonstrating waveband conversion with low cross talk.

In-line monitoring technique with visible light from 1.3 microm-band SHG module for optical access systems.

We propose an in-line monitoring technique that uses 650 nm visible light for performing maintenance work on Fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network quickly without the need for measuring skills or external devices. This technique is characterized by visible light (650 nm) generated by an SHG module from the 1.3 microm-band line signal. We fabricate a 1.3 microm-band quasi phase matched LiNbO(3) (QPM-LN) module, and the measure the 650 nm second harmonic (SH) power to test the proposed short-pulse modulation method. The results confirm the feasibility of the short-pulse modulation method with different peak factors (PFs) (1.0-7.3). We also examine the effect of short-pulse modulation on system performance at the optical receiver by measuring the bit error rate (BER) of received data (1.25 Gb/s). The BER is basically unaffected by the PF (1.0-5.5). This means that the proposed technique has little influence on data reception as regards PF (1.0-5.5).

Efficient 494 mW sum-frequency generation of sodium resonance radiation at 589 nm by using a periodically poled Zn:LiNbO3 ridge waveguide.

A solid-state-laser based single-frequency 589 nm light source that can be easily used in the laboratory is needed for sodium spectroscopy studies and cold sodium atom experiments. This paper shows that by using a periodically poled Zn-doped LiNbO(3) ridge waveguide for sum-frequency generation, we can obtain a high conversion efficiency to 589 nm light from two sub-watt 1064 and 1319 nm Nd:YAG lasers via a simple single pass wavelength conversion process without employing an enhancement cavity. A 494 mW light at 589 nm is generated and achieves overall conversion efficiency from the laser power of 41%. Excellent long-term stability of output power is obtained and its standard deviation is characterized to be 0.09%.

Polarization-independent, differential-phase-shift, quantum-key distribution system using upconversion detectors.

We propose and demonstrate a polarization-independent, differential-phase-shift, quantum-key distribution system with upconversion detectors. Even though the detectors have polarization dependency, use of alternative polarization modulation and a two-bit delay interferometer achieves polarization-insensitive operation. In an experiment, sifted key bits were polarization-independently generated over 50 km fiber.