Compression and equalization of arbitrary form pulses for optical fiber applications

Abstract

In this work we analyze the compression and equalization of pulses in the ps range by using an approach based on the Radon-Wigner transform (RWT). The whole RWT display is obtained from a generalization of the Fourier transform, namely the fractional Fourier transform (FRT), by varying the fractional order <i>p</i> from 0 (temporal information) to 1 (spectral information). From the inspection of the RWT the optimum fractional order <i>pC</i> originating the desired processing condition can be obtained. However, as this signal representation depends on a scale factor which should be introduced, the value of <i>pC</i> is also affected. This point is here analyzed taking into account the restrictions on the scale factor which are imposed by the photonic devices involved in an experimental implementation; namely, an amount of chromatic dispersion and an attainable phase modulation factor. We illustrate the method with some applications which are of interest in fiber optic links such as second and third order chromatic dispersion compensation and pulse transmission under a non linear regime. The theoretical model derived from an analytical expression of the FRT is corroborated with numerical simulations.