<title>Impulse-equivalent time-domain optical memory</title>

Abstract

We propose a novel approach to time-domain storage of serial optical data. In this approach, two identical impulse- equivalent sequences are used as write and read pulses to store and later retrieve optical information. These pulse sequences are both amplitude- and phase-modulated in such a way that their autocorrelations resemble, as closely as theoretically possible, the autocorrelation of a single large brief pulse to ensure faithful data retrieval. Such impulse-equivalent sequences are known to exist for all lengths, permitting the storage of large bandwidth data. In a proof-of-concept experiment, we have successfully stored a 42-microsecond long stream containing 420 bits of data in a 40-MHz spectral channel in a Eu3+:Y2SiO5 crystal. The stored data was repeatedly recalled for up to eight times with high signal fidelity, showing no measurable sidelobe-induced noise.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.