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Multilevel quantization of optical phase in a novel coherent parametric mixer architecture

Nature Photonics volume 5, pages 748–752 (2011)Cite this article

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Abstract

The exponentially increasing capacity demand in information systems will be met by carefully exploiting the complementary strengths of electronics and optics1,2. Optical signal processing provides simple but powerful pipeline functions that offer high speed, low power, low latency and a route to densely parallel execution3. A number of functions such as modulation and sampling4,5,6,7, complex filtering8 and Fourier transformation9 have already been demonstrated. However, the key functionality of all-optical quantization has still not been addressed effectively. Here, we report an all-optical signal processing architecture that enables, for the first time, multilevel all-optical quantization of phase-encoded optical signals. A four-wave-mixing process is used to generate a comb of phase harmonics of the input signal, and a two-pump parametric process to coherently combine a selected harmonic with the input signal, realizing phase quantization. We experimentally demonstrate operation up to six levels.

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Figure 1: Staircase quantization.
Figure 2: Illustration of how the M-level staircase transfer function necessary for phase quantization is achieved.
Figure 3: Experimental set-up.
Figure 4: Signal constellation diagrams.
Figure 5: Constellation data when the quantizer is operated as a multilevel phase regenerator with a noisy input signal.

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Acknowledgements

This research received funding from the European Communities Seventh Framework Programme FP/2007-2013 (grant agreements 224547 (PHASORS) and 216863 (BONE)). The authors thank P. Horak and P. Smith for useful discussions. This work was supported in part by the EPSRC grant EP/I01196X.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Optoelectronics Research Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK

    Joseph Kakande, Radan Slavík, Francesca Parmigiani, Periklis Petropoulos & David J. Richardson

  2. Technological Educational Institute of Athens, Aghiou Spiridonos, Egaleo, Athens, GR-12210, Greece

    Adonis Bogris

  3. National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Illisia, Athens, GR-15784, Greece

    Adonis Bogris & Dimitris Syvridis

  4. OFS, Priorparken 680, 2605 Brøndby, Denmark

    Lars Grüner-Nielsen

  5. Eblana Photonics, Trinity College Enterprise Centre, Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Ireland

    Richard Phelan

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  1. Joseph Kakande
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Contributions

J.K. devised the concept and carried out the experiment and data analysis. R.S. provided support during all stages. L.G.N. supplied the HNFs. R.P. supplied the semiconductor slave laser. A.B. and D.S. contributed to theoretical and numerical analysis. F.P. and P.P. co-supervised the work. D.J.R. provided overall technical leadership and supervision.

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Correspondence to Joseph Kakande.

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Kakande, J., Slavík, R., Parmigiani, F. et al. Multilevel quantization of optical phase in a novel coherent parametric mixer architecture. Nature Photon 5, 748–752 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2011.254

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