Novel optical pulse characterization technique using sinusoidal optical phase modulation with a broad usable modulation amplitude range

Abstract

Advanced optical pulse characterization methods are essential for high-speed optical communications. Recently non-iterative characterization of general optical pulses using sinusoidal optical phase modulation has been reported [1–2]. However, the usable phase modulation amplitude with this method has a relatively small upper limit (0.88 radians [1]). In this paper we propose a novel non-iterative optical pulse characterization technique using sinusoidal optical phase modulation, which can work with modulation amplitude up to 1.9 radians. The larger usable modulation amplitude would make the proposed method more tolerable to noise present in the recorded pulse spectrum after undergoing phase modulation.