John Malowicki

Harmonically mode-locked glass waveguide laser with 21-fs timing jitter

We report on experimental jitter results of a 10-GHz mode-locked laser. The laser is an actively harmonically mode-locked fiber laser using an erbium-doped glass waveguide as the gain medium. Amplitude noise and corresponding phase noise effects are greatly reduced by the inclusion of an intracavity high-finesse fiber Fabry-Pe/spl acute/rot etalon. Typical results show timing jitter of 21-fs root mean square, integrated from 10 Hz to 100 MHz.

Generation of high-purity entangled photon pair in a short highly nonlinear fiber

We generate photon pairs at telecom wavelength through a spontaneous four-wave mixing process in a short 10 m of highly nonlinear fiber. We use a counterpropagating scheme to generate a correlated and entangled photon pair. We observe coincidence to accidental-coincidence ratio of 29±3 at room temperature (300 K) and as high as 130±5 when the fiber is cooled to liquid-nitrogen temperature (77 K). Two-photon interference with visibility >98% (>92%) and the violation of Bells inequality by >12 (≈5) standard deviation are observed at 77 K (300 K), respectively, without subtracting accidental-coincidence count. We obtain a photon-pair production rate about factor 3(2) higher than a 300 m dispersion-shifted fiber at 300 K (77 K).

Photon-Pair Generation with a 100 nm Thick Carbon Nanotube Film

Nonlinear optics based on bulk materials is the current technique of choice for quantum-state generation and information processing. Scaling of nonlinear optical quantum devices is of significant interest to enable quantum devices with high performance. However, it is challenging to scale the nonlinear optical devices down to the nanoscale dimension due to relatively small nonlinear optical response of traditional bulk materials. Here, correlated photon pairs are generated in the nanometer scale using a nonlinear optical device for the first time. The approach uses spontaneous four-wave mixing in a carbon nanotube film with extremely large Kerr-nonlinearity (≈100 000 times larger than that of the widely used silica), which is achieved through careful control of the tube diameter during the carbon nanotube growth. Photon pairs with a coincidence to accidental ratio of 18 at the telecom wavelength of 1.5 µm are generated at room temperature in a ≈100 nm thick carbon nanotube film device, i.e., 1000 times thinner than the smallest existing devices. These results are promising for future integrated nonlinear quantum devices (e.g., quantum emission and processing devices).

Optically assisted high-speed, high resolution analog-to-digital conversion

An approach that modifies an analog fiber optic link with a recirculating optical loop as a means to realize a high-speed, high-resolution Analog-to-Digital Converted (ADC) is presented. The loops stores a time-limited microwave signal so that it may be digitized by using a slower, conventional electronic ADC. Detailed analytical analysis of the dynamic range and noise figure shows that under appropriate conditions the microwave signal degradation is sufficiently small so as to allow the digitization of a multi-gigahertz signal with a resolution greater than 10 effective bits. Experimental data is presented which shows that a periodic extension of the input signal can be sustained for well over one hundred periods that in turn suggests an electronic ADC speed-up factor of over 100. The data also shows that polarization effects must be carefully managed to inhibit the loops tendency to lase even though the loop itself contains no frequency-selective elements.

Bacteriorhodopsin optical switch

A novel bacteriorhodopsin based photonic crossbar system for broadband communications is proposed. This free-space dynamically reconfigurable N X N crossbar switch utilizes an intelligent holographic system for routing and switching by dynamically reconfigurable gratings of bacteriorhodopsin, which has high write/read photocyclicity that is greater than 106. The major advantages of the system include large interconnectivity density, transparent data redistribution, and fiber optic bandwidth capacity. In addition, the switching device resolves optical-to-electronic and electronic-to- optical conversion bottlenecks and reduces signal-to-noise degradation which is due to the conversions. This crossbar design is completely free of internal blocking which is one of the major drawbacks of guided optical crossbars. The system takes advantage of the parallelism and multidimensionality inherent in optics and can be scaled to a large capacity of N X N, while it maintains a low weight and portability which are a projected requirement for future broadband communications.

Experimental demonstration of a retro-reflective laser communication link on a mobile platform

Successful pointing, acquisition, and tracking (PAT) are crucial for the implementation of laser communication links between ground and aerial vehicles. This technology has advantages over the traditional radio frequency communication, thus justifying the research efforts presented in this paper. The authors have been successful in the development of a high precision, agile, digitally controlled two-degree-of-freedom electromechanical system for positioning of optical instruments, cameras, telescopes, and communication lasers. The centerpiece of this system is a robotic manipulator capable of singularity-free operation throughout the full hemisphere range of yaw/pitch motion. The availability of efficient two-degree-of-freedom positioning facilitated the development of an optical platform stabilization system capable of rejecting resident vibrations with the angular and frequency range consistent with those caused by a ground vehicle moving on a rough terrain. This technology is being utilized for the development of a duplex mobile PAT system demonstrator that would provide valuable feedback for the development of practical laser communication systems intended for fleets of moving ground, and possibly aerial, vehicles. In this paper, a tracking system providing optical connectivity between stationary and mobile ground platforms is described. It utilizes mechanical manipulator to perform optical platform stabilization and initial beam positioning, and optical tracking for maintaining the line-of-sight communication. Particular system components and the challenges of their integration are described. The results of field testing of the resultant system under practical conditions are presented.

True-time-delay photonic beamformer for an L-band phased array radar

The problem of obtaining a true-time-delay photonic beamformer has recently been a topic of great interest. Many interesting and novel approaches to this problem have been studied. This paper examines the design, construction, and testing of a dynamic optical processor for the control of a 20-element phased array antenna operating at L-band (1.2-1.4 GHz). The approach taken here has several distinct advantages. The actual optical control is accomplished with a class of spatial light modulator known as a segmented mirror device (SMD). This allows for the possibility of controlling an extremely large number (tens of thousands) of antenna elements using integrated circuit technology. The SMD technology is driven by the HDTV and laser printer markets so ultimate cost reduction as well as technological improvements are expected. Optical splitting is efficiently accomplished using a diffractive optical element. This again has the potential for use in antenna array systems with a large number of radiating elements. The actual time delay is achieved using a single acousto-optic device for all the array elements. Acousto-optic device technologies offer sufficient delay as needed for a time steered array. The topological configuration is an optical heterodyne system, hence high, potentially millimeter wave center frequencies are possible by mixing two lasers of slightly differing frequencies. Finally, the entire system is spatially integrated into a 3D glass substrate. The integrated system provides the ruggedness needed in most applications and essentially eliminates the drift problems associated with free space optical systems. Though the system is presently being configured as a beamformer, it has the ability to operate as a general photonic signal processing element in an adaptive (reconfigurable) transversal frequency filter configuration. Such systems are widely applicable in jammer/noise canceling systems, broadband ISDN, and for spread spectrum secure communications. This paper also serves as an update of work-in-progress at the Rome Laboratory Photonics Center Optical Beamforming Lab. The multi-faceted aspects of the design and construction of this state-of-the-art beamforming project will be discussed. Experimental results which demonstrate the performance of the system to-date with regard to both maximum delay and resolution over a broad bandwidth are presented.

Wideband operation of a photorefractive-based adaptive processor

Optical adaptive processors using photorefractive crystals as time integrating devices have demonstrated greater than 40-dB cancellation of narrowband interference signals. However, we desire to use adaptive optical processors to null broadband radar jamming. We tested the performance of our photorefractive based adaptive processor using wideband noise signals (greater than 100 kHz). The systems operation and experimental results of both narrowband and wideband cancellation are described.

Quantum correlation of fiber-based telecom-band photon pairs through standard loss and random media

We study quantum correlation and interference of fiber-based telecom-band photon pairs with one photon of the pair experiencing multiple scattering in a random medium. We measure joint probability of two-photon detection for signal photon in a normal channel and idler photon in a channel, which is subjected to two independent conditions: standard loss (neutral density filter) and random media. We observe that both conditions degrade the correlation of signal and idler photons, and depolarization of the idler photon in random medium can enhance two-photon interference at certain relative polarization angles. Our theoretical calculation on two-photon polarization correlation and interference as a function of mean free path is in agreement with our experiment data. We conclude that quantum correlation of a polarization-entangled photon pair is better preserved than a polarization-correlated photon pair as one photon of the pair scatters through a random medium.

The uncertainty principle and entangled correlations in quantum key distribution protocols

Considerations of non-locality and correlation measures provide insights to Quantum Mechanics. Nonphysical states are shown to exceed limits of QM in both respects and yet conform to relativity’s ‘nosignaling’ constraint. Recent work has shown that the Uncertainty Principle limits non-locality to distinguish models that exceed those of QM. Accordingly, the Uncertainty Principle is shown to limit correlation strength independently of non-locality, extending interpretation of the prior work, and to underlie the security of Quantum Key Distribution. The established Ekert protocol[6] is compared with more secure variations, in particular H. Yuens Keyed Communication in Quantum Noise (KCQ) [7] and a new Time-Gating protocol which minimizes authentication and susceptibility to active eavesdropping.