Gilad Masri

Fused fiber micro-knots

We present fusing of a fiber micro-knot by a CO2 laser beam. We demonstrate tuning of the coupling strength and tuning of the spectral resonance of the micro-knot by the fusing process. The experimental results reveal that fusing the fiber micro-knots increases the coupling efficiency and improves the robustness and the stability of the micro-knots.

Long period fiber gratings with off-resonance spectral response based on mechanical oscillations

We present long period fiber gratings with off-resonance spectral response. Our long period fiber gratings are created by the periodic structure of large perturbations in the fiber diameter. These perturbations result in unique spectral response, even in off-resonance frequencies. Writing these long period fiber gratings is based on utilizing the mechanical vibrations of tapered fibers during the tapering process. This writing method is simple and robust; it has high efficiency, high reproducibility, and low polarization dependency; and it enables real-time tunability of the periodicity, efficiency, and length of the grating. We also demonstrate a complex grating by writing multiple gratings one on top of the other. Finally, we utilize the formation of the gratings in different fiber diameters to investigate the Youngs modulus of tapered fibers.

Polarization dependence of asymmetric off-resonance long period fiber gratings: erratum

Correction of Fig. 3 which was taken with different conditions than stated in the text. The figure presented here is the correct version with improved resolution.

The picosecond structure of ultra-fast rogue waves

We investigated ultrafast rogue waves in fiber lasers and found three different patterns of rogue waves: single- peaks, twin-peaks, and triple-peaks. The statistics of the different patterns as a function of the pump power of the laser reveals that the probability for all rogue waves patterns increase close to the laser threshold. We developed a numerical model which prove that the ultrafast rogue waves patterns result from both the polarization mode dispersion in the fiber and the non-instantaneous nature of the saturable absorber. This discovery reveals that there are three different types of rogue waves in fiber lasers: slow, fast, and ultrafast, which relate to three different time-scales and are governed by three different sets of equations: the laser rate equations, the nonlinear Schrodinger equation, and the saturable absorber equations, accordingly. This discovery is highly important for analyzing rogue waves and other extreme events in fiber lasers and can lead to realizing types of rogue waves which were not possible so far such as triangular rogue waves.

Ultrafast rogue wave patterns in fiber lasers

Fiber lasers are convenient for studying extreme and rare events, such as rogue waves, thanks to the lasers’ fast dynamics. Indeed, several types of rogue wave patterns were observed in fiber lasers at different time-scales: single peak, twin peak, and triple peak. We measured the statistics of these ultrafast rogue wave patterns with a time lens and developed a numerical model proving that the patterns of the ultrafast rogue waves were generated by the non-instantaneous relaxation of the saturable absorber together with the polarization mode dispersion of the cavity. Our results indicate that the dynamics of the saturable absorber is directly related to the dynamics of ultrafast extreme events in lasers.

Temporal depth imaging

We developed the concept of temporal depth imaging and defined non-flat signals as signals with different dispersion values as a function of time. We demonstrated how shifting the timing of a time lens makes it possible to retrieve the dispersion value of each point in the signal, which is equivalent to a 3D imaging system. Finally, we demonstrated how a time lens array can retrieve these values with a single measurement by comparing the different images obtained by the time lens array.

Temporal super resolution based on phase retrieval algorithm with a time-lens

We developed temporal super-resolution technique by adopting super-resolution techniques from space to time. Similar to spatial optics, where knowledge about the basic building blocks of the image can lead to better resolution, as demonstrated by localization microscopy techniques. We are utilizing our knowledge on the shape and duration of the pulses to retrieve a super-resolution image in the time domain of an input signal. The resolution of our time-lens is much lower than the needed resolution to obtain the signal but never-the-less we obtain a temporal image with high resolution.

Cloaking data in optical networks

Modern networks implement multi-layer encryption architecture to increase network security, stability, and robustness. We developed a new paradigm for optical encryption based on the strengths of optics over electronics and according to temporal optics principles. We developed a highly efficient all-optical encryption scheme for modern networks. Our temporal encryption scheme exploits the strength of optics over electronics. Specifically, we utilize dispersion together with nonlinear interaction for mixing neighboring bits with a private key. Our system encrypts the entire network traffic without any latency, encrypt the signal itself, exploit only one non- linear interaction, it is energetically efficient with low ecologic footprint, and can be added to current networks without replacing the hardware such as the lasers, the transmitters, the routers, the amplifiers or the receivers. Our method can replace current slow encryption methods or can be added to increase the security of existing systems. In this paper, we elaborate on the theoretical models of the system and how we evaluate the encryption strength with this numerical tools.

Four Wave Mixing-Based Time Lens for Orthogonal Polarized Input Signals

We present highly efficient time-lenses for orthogonal polarized signal waves with a specific state of polarization. Our four-wave mixing based time-lenses exploit polarization mode dispersion to compensate for chromatic dispersion. The results reveal that the efficiency of the time-lens is increased fivefold for both states of polarization. We also compensate for any polarization-dependent losses in the system by tailoring the pump state of polarization. Our time-lenses can be implemented in current telecommunication systems together with polarization division multiplexing in order to reach higher bandwidth.