Experimental study of slow light based on four-wave mixing wavelength conversion and dispersion in optical fibers

Abstract

Slow light based on four-wave mixing (FWM) wavelength conversion and dispersion is experimentally studied. The FWM bandwidth of the highly nonlinear fiber is measured to be 40 nm, which is also the slow light tunable bandwidth. A 34 ns delay of 500 MHz sine signal is achieved in standard single mode fiber, and 198 ns delay of short pulses with 100 ps width is achieved in dispersion compensation fiber (DCF). An advancement of 209 ns for the 100 ps short pulses is also achieved in the DCF. The method to increase the slow light delay is discussed, and large delay up to microseconds is expected when wideband FWM wavelength conversion and large dispersion fibers are used. The expected large delay will help us realize high efficiency fiber delay lines and all-fiber buffers.