arXiv subjects

Bahram Jalali

Publications and source records attributed to Bahram Jalali.

49 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2008

Amplified Dispersive Fourier-Transform Imaging for Ultrafast Displacement Sensing and Barcode Reading

Dispersive Fourier transformation is a powerful technique in which the spectrum of an optical pulse is mapped into a time-domain waveform using chromatic dispersion. It replaces a diffraction grating and detector array with a dispersive fiber and single photodetector. This simplifies the system and, more importantly, enables fast real-time measurements. Here we describe a novel ultrafast barcode reader and displacement sensor that employs internally-amplified dispersive Fourier transformation. This technique amplifies and simultaneously maps the spectrally encoded barcode into a temporal waveform. It achieves a record acquisition speed of 25 MHz -- four orders of magnitude faster than the current state-of-the-art.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2008

Extreme value statistics and the Pareto distribution in silicon photonics

L-shape probability distributions are extremely non-Gaussian distributions that have been surprisingly successful in describing the frequency of occurrence of extreme events, ranging from stock market crashes and natural disasters, the structure of biological systems, fractals, and optical rogue waves. In this paper, we show that fluctuations in stimulated Raman scattering in silicon, as well as in coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering, can follow extreme value statistics and provide mathematical insight into the origin of this behavior. As an example of the experimental observations, we find that 16% of the Stokes pulses account for 84% of the pump energy transfer, an uncanny resemblance to the empirical Pareto principle or the 80/20 rule that describes important observation in socioeconomics.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2008

Silicon Photonics: The Inside Story

The electronic chip industry embodies the height of technological sophistication and economics of scale. Fabricating inexpensive photonic components by leveraging this mighty manufacturing infrastructure has fueled intense interest in silicon photonics. If it can be done economically and in an energy efficient manner, empowering silicon with optical functionality will bring optical communications to the realm of computers where limitations of metallic interconnects are threatening the industry's future. The field is making stunning progress and stands to have a bright future, as long as the community recognizes the real challenges, and maintains an open mind with respect to its applications. This talk will review recent 'game changing' developments and discuss promising applications beyond data communication. It will conclude with recent observation of extreme-value statistical behavior in silicon photonics, a powerful example of how scientific discoveries can unexpectedly emerge in the course of technology development.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2008

Extreme Value Statistics in Silicon Photonics

We show that fluctuations of Raman amplified pulses, in the presence of a noisy pump, follow extreme value statistics, and provide mathematical insight into the origin of this perplexing behavior.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2008

Photonic Time Stretch Enhanced Recording Scope

We demonstrate a new mode of operation for the Time Stretched A/D converter. The technique is superior to the sampling scope in that it permits the capture of non periodic events such as clustered noise.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2008

A new stochastic differential equation approach for waves in a random medium

We present a mathematical approach that simplifies the theoretical treatment of electromagnetic localization in random media and leads to closed form analytical solutions. Starting with the assumption that the dielectric permittivity of the medium has delta-correlated spatial fluctuations, and using the Ito lemma, we derive a linear stochastic differential equation for a one dimensional random medium. The equation leads to localized wave solutions. The localized wave solutions have a localization length that scales inversely with the square of the frequency of the wave in the low frequency regime, whereas in the high frequency regime, this length varies inversely with the frequency to the power of two thirds.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2008

Limiting Nature of Continuum Generation in Silicon

Spectral broadening in silicon is studied numerically as well as experimentally. Temporal dynamics of the free carriers generated during the propagation of optical pulses, through the process of two-photon absorption (TPA), affect the amplitude and phase of the optical pulses, thereby determining the nature and extent of the generated spectral continuum. Experimental results are obtained by propagating pico-second optical pulses in a silicon waveguide for intensities that span two orders of magnitude (1-150 GW/cm2). These results validate the conclusions drawn from numerical simulations that the continuum generation has a self-limiting nature in silicon.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2008

Time Warps in Photonic Time Stretch ADC and Their Mitigation

We demonstrate a 10-GHz bandwidth digitizer with 7-effective bits of resolution and 52dB SFDR, using photonic time stretch technique. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest resolution analog-to-digital converter (ADC) of the same bandwidth, with at least an order of magnitude higher SNR than previously achieved. This is made possible by correction of distortion due to time warps, and non-linearities due to wavelength dependent bias variation in the Mach-Zehnder modulator. We also demonstrate concatenation of 30 wavelength interleaved time segments with high fidelity on the path to achieving continuous time operation.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2008

Amplified Dispersive Optical Tomography

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has proven to be a powerful technique for studying tissue morphology in ophthalmology, cardiology, and endomicroscopy. Its performance is limited by the fundamental trade-off between the imaging sensitivity and acquisition speed -- a predicament common in virtually all imaging systems. In this paper, we circumvent this limit by using distributed Raman post-amplification of the reflection from the sample. We combine the amplification with simultaneously performed dispersive Fourier transformation, a process that maps the optical spectrum into an easily measured time-domain waveform. The Raman amplification enables measurement of weak signals which are otherwise buried in noise. It extends the depth range without sacrificing the acquisition speed or causing damage to the sample. As proof of concept, single-shot imaging with 15 dB improvement in sensitivity at an axial scan rate of 36.6 MHz is demonstrated.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2008

Silicon Resonant Antenna

The need for high data rate communication systems has been dramatically increasing in recent years. The millimeter-wave bands (such as 60 GHz) have been investigated for wireless high data rate transmission. At these frequencies, the conductor loss is significant which makes dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) a good replacement for microstrip patch antennas currently in use. Moreover, use of silicon as the dielectric material in a DRA provides the great feature of bandwidth tunability through carrier density modulation. In this paper, we present experimental and theoretical studies of antennas made from silicon.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2007

Demonstration of a mid infrared silicon Raman amplifier

We demonstrate for the first time a mid infrared silicon Raman amplifier. Amplification of 12 dB is reported for a signal at 3.39 micron wavelength. The active medium was a 2.5 cm long silicon sample that was pumped with 5ns pulses at 2.88 micron. The absence of the nonlinear losses which severely limit the performance of silicon Raman devices in the near infrared combined with unsurpassed crystal quality, high thermal conductivity render silicon a very attractive Raman medium. Such a technology can potentially extend silicon photonics application beyond data communication in the near infrared and into the mid infrared world of remote sensing, biochemical detection and laser medicine.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2006

Self-imaging silicon Raman amplifier

We propose a new type of waveguide optical amplifier. The device consists of collinearly propagating pump and amplified Stokes beams with periodic imaging of the Stokes beam due to the Talbot effect. The application of this device as an Image preamplifier for Mid Wave Infrared (MWIR) remote sensing is discussed and its performance is described. Silicon is the preferred material for this application in MWIR due to its excellent transmission properties, high thermal conductivity, high damage threshold and the mature fabrication technology. In these devices, the Raman amplification process also includes four-wave-mixing between various spatial modes of pump and Stokes signals. This phenomenon is unique to nonlinear interactions in multimode waveguides and places a limit on the maximum achievable gain, beyond which the image begins to distort. Another source of image distortion is the preferential amplification of Stokes modes that have the highest overlap with the pump. These effects introduce a tradeoff between the gain and image quality. We show that a possible solution to this trade-off is to restrict the pump into a single higher order waveguide mode.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2005

Tera-sample-per-second Real-time Waveform Digitizer

We demonstrate a real-time transient waveform digitizer with a record 1 TSa/s (Tera-Sample/sec) sampling rate. This is accomplished by using a photonic time stretch preprocessor which slows down the electrical waveform before it is captured by an electronic digitizer.

physics.ins-det↗