Combined optical nonlinearities for travelling-wave signal processing

Abstract

Summary form only given. We propose and demonstrate a travelling-wave nonlinear device for optical signal processing. It is based on the sequential use of a nonlinear phase shift (Kerr-like effect) and a phase sensitive parametric amplification (PSA). Even though it is under first step investigations, this arrangement has already featured interesting optical proprieties, among which: (1) amplification of a weak modulation encoded on a strong optical signal, better than the usual gain of the bare PSA. (2) Sign inversion of the weak modulation with absolute gain greater than unity. (3) Complete suppression of classical noise. For these demonstrations, the processed signal is generated by a pulsed frequency doubled Nd:YLF laser.