Search Results (160)

Quantum secret sharing (QSS) faces inherent limitations in scaling to multi-user networks due to excess noise introduced by highly asymmetric beam splitters (HABSs) in chain-structured topologies. To overcome this challenge, we propose an optical frequency comb-based continuous-variable QSS (OFC CV-QSS) scheme that establishes parallel frequency channels between users and the dealer via OFC-generated multi-wavelength carriers. By replacing the chain-structured links with dedicated frequency channels and integrating the Chinese remainder theorem (CRT) with a decentralized architecture, our design eliminates excess noise from all users using HABS while providing mathematical- and physical-layer security. Simulation results demonstrate that the scheme achieves a more than 50% improvement in maximum transmission distance compared to chain-based QSS, with significantly slower performance degradation as users scale to 20. Numerical simulations confirm the feasibility of this theoretical framework for multi-user quantum networks, offering dual-layer confidentiality without compromising key rates. Full article

Terahertz (THz) frequencies, spanning from 0.1 to 1 THz, are poised to play a pivotal role in the development of future 6G wireless communication systems. These systems aim to utilize photonic technologies to enable ultra-high data rates—on the order of terabits per second—while maintaining low latency and high efficiency. In this work, we present a novel photonic method for generating sub-THz vector signals within the THz band, employing a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) and phase modulator (PM) to create an optical frequency comb, combined with in-phase and quadrature (IQ) modulation techniques. We demonstrate, both through simulation and experimental setup, the generation and successful transmission of a 0.1 THz vector. The process involves driving the PM with a 12.5 GHz radio frequency signal to produce the optical comb; then, heterodyne beating in a uni-traveling carrier photodiode (UTC-PD) generates the 0.1 THz radio frequency signal. This signal is transmitted over distances of up to 30 km using single-mode fiber. The resulting 0.1 THz electrical vector signal, modulated with quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK), achieves a bit error ratio (BER) below the hard-decision forward error correction (HD-FEC) threshold of ${3.8 \times 10}^{-3}$. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first experimental demonstration of a 0.1 THz photonic vector THz wave based on an SOA and a simple PM-driven optical frequency comb. Full article

Chirped radio-frequency signals are essential waveforms in radar systems. To enhance resolution and improve the signal-to-noise ratio through higher energy transmission, chirps with high time–bandwidth products are highly desirable. Photonic technologies, with their ability to handle broad electrical bandwidths, have been widely employed in the generation, filtering, processing, and detection of broadband electrical waveforms. In this work, we propose a photonics-based large-TBWP RF chirp generator utilizing dual optical frequency combs with a small difference in the repetition rate. By employing dispersion modules for frequency-to-time mapping, we convert the spectral interferometric patterns into a temporal RF sinusoidal carrier signal whose frequency is swept through the optical shot-to-shot delay. We derive analytical expressions to quantify the system’s performance under various design parameters, including the comb repetition rate and its offset, the second-order dispersion, the transform-limited optical pulse width, and the photodetector’s bandwidth limitations. We benchmark the expected system performance in terms of RF bandwidth, chirp duration, chirp rate, frequency step size, and TBWP. Using realistic dual-comb source parameters, we demonstrate the feasibility of generating RF chirps with a duration of 284.44 $\mathsf{\mu }$s and a bandwidth of 234.05 GHz, corresponding to a TBWP of $3.3\times {10}^7$. Full article

Optically pumped semiconductor disk lasers—known as vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VECSELs)—are promising devices for ultrashort pulse formation. For it, a “SESAM-free” approach labeled “self-mode-locking” received considerable attention in the past decade, relying solely on a chip-related nonlinear optical property which can establish adequate pulsing conditions—thereby suggesting a reduced reliance on a semiconductor saturable-absorber mirror (the SESAM) in the cavity. Self-mode-locked (SML) VECSELs with sub-ps pulse durations were reported repeatedly. This motivated investigations on a Kerr-lensing type effect acting as an artificial saturable absorber. So-called Z-scan and ultrafast beam-deflection experiments were conducted to emphasize the role of nonlinear lensing in the chip for pulse formation. Recently, in addition to allowing stable ultrashort pulsed operation, self-starting mode-locked operation gave rise to another emission regime related to frequency comb formation. While amplitude-modulated combs relate to signal peaks in time, providing a so-called pulse train, a frequency-modulated comb is understood to cause quasi continuous-wave output with its sweep of instantaneous frequency over the range of phase-locked modes. With gain-bandwidth-enhanced chips, as well as with an improved understanding of the impacts of dispersion and nonlinear lensing properties and cavity configurations on the device output, an enhanced employment of SML VECSELs is to be expected. Full article

In recent years, micro-combs, due to their compact structure and high efficiency, have proven to be a practical solution for optical sources. In this paper, an approach to flexibly modulating micro-combs is proposed, and a simulation platform based on ${\mathrm{Si}}_3{\mathrm{N}}_4$ micro-combs with highly integrated, tunable, and reconfigurable features is built. By means of the Lugiato–Lefever equation model, the dynamic evolution process of micro-combs is analyzed, and a micro-ring resonator is designed with a free spectral range of 7.24 nm, an effective mode area of $1.0829{\mu \mathrm{m}}^2$, and coherent comb lines spanning over 125 THz. Cascaded silicon nitride micro-ring filters are utilized to obtain reconfigurable modulation effects for Kerr-frequency micro-combs. Due to the significance of flexibly controlled optical sources with high-repetition rates and multiple channels for system-on-chip, our proposal has potential in photonic integrated circuit systems, such as high-density photonic computing and large-capacity optical communications, in the future. Full article

Bow-tie cavity configurations have gained significant attention due to their efficacy in facilitating stable resonator operation for applications requiring short pulse operation and high repetition rate pulses, offering versatility and reliability. While there is an extensive body of literature addressing the theoretical aspects and applications of this laser configuration, there exists a gap in practical insights and systematic approaches guidance pertaining to the development and precision alignment of this laser type. The paper achieves this by compiling a range of analytical and optimization techniques for the bow-tie cavity configuration and delineating the necessary steps for the optimization required for continuous wave operation. This ultimately leads to the attainment of the pulsed regime through the Kerr Lens Mode-locking technique, offering a detailed account of the development, optimization, and performance evaluation of a Ti:Sapphire femtosecond laser cavity, using dispersion-compensating mirrors to produce a low-energy pulse of 1 nJ, a high repetition rate of 1 GHz, and a short pulse duration of 61 fs. This work can be useful for researchers and engineers seeking to embark on the development of compact and high-performance femtosecond lasers for a spectrum of applications, encompassing biomedical imaging, laser-assisted surgery, spectroscopy, and optical frequency combs. Full article

A novel photonics-assisted technique for generating reconfigurable frequency hopping (FH) signals is proposed and demonstrated through optical comb filtering (OCF). The arithmetic progression of frequency difference between OCF passbands and optical frequency comb lines is exploited to enable wavelength selection controlled by an intermediate frequency signal, with ultra-wideband FH signals subsequently being generated through optical heterodyning. Comprehensive theoretical and numerical investigations are conducted, demonstrating the successful generation of diverse FH waveforms including 5-, 10-, and 25-level stepped frequency signals, Costas-coded patterns, as well as complex wideband signals such as 30 GHz linear frequency modulated and 24 GHz sinusoidal chirped waveforms. Critical system considerations including laser frequency stability, FH speed, and parameter optimization are examined. Wide tunable bandwidth exceeding 30 GHz, good stability, and inherent compatibility with photonic integration is achieved, showing significant potential for advanced applications in cognitive radio and modern radar systems where high-performance frequency-agile signal generation is required. Full article

Nonlinear dynamical states generated by self-delayed feedback based on fiber structures have broad applications. However, fiber-based optoelectronic feedback or pure optical feedback systems exhibit long delays, and the coupling mechanisms between these two loops differ significantly from those in short-delay systems. A systematic investigation of feedback coupling mechanisms under long-delay conditions is of great significance for optimizing such systems. In this paper, the nonlinear dynamic state generated by directly modulated distributed feedback semiconductor laser (DM-DFBL) self-delayed feedback with an optoelectronic oscillation loop is studied. Both numerical and experimental results show that the DM-DFBL’s dynamical states vary with changes in optical and electrical feedback intensities. In the self-delayed feedback, the DM-DFBL exhibits an evolutionary path from a chaos (CO) state to a period-one (P1) state and finally becomes a steady state with the decrease of optical feedback intensity. In the optoelectronic oscillation loop, the DM-DFBL generates a microwave frequency comb (MFC), a full-frequency oscillation, and a P1 state. Additionally, the dynamic state of the DM-DFBL can be disturbed, and the stability of the P1 state and the QP state can be enhanced when the optoelectronic oscillation loop is introduced. These conclusions contribute to the precise control of dynamic evolution. Full article

In this paper, a scheme for generating high-quality tunable microwave-frequency combs (MFCs) is proposed. The proposed scheme is based on an initially non-flat MFC generated by a directly modulated laser operating in gain-switching status. Filtering operations are used to increase the flatness of the MFC. Concretely, by employing an optical bandpass filter and a two-tap negative-coefficient microwave photonic filter, the flatness of the MFC is significantly optimized. In the experiment, MFCs with adjustable comb spacing from 0.5 GHz to 1.6 GHz and bandwidths ranging from 0 to 26.5 GHz are generated. The flatness is better than ±2.5 dB for the MFC. The proposed scheme provides a simple, efficient, and high-performance solution for generating MFCs, making it a promising candidate for various applications requiring high-quality MFC sources. Full article

Recent advancements in hybrid photonic integrated circuits (PICs) for wireless communications are reviewed, with a focus on innovations developed at Fraunhofer HHI. This work leverages hybrid integration technology, which combines indium phosphide (InP) active elements, silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) low-loss waveguides, and high-efficient thermal-optical tunable polymers with micro-optical functions to achieve fully integrated wireless transceivers. Key contributions include (1) On-chip optical injection locking for generating phase-locked optical beat notes at 45 GHz, enabled by cascaded InP phase modulators and hybrid InP/polymer tunable lasers with a 3.8 GHz locking range. (2) Waveguide-integrated THz emitters and receivers, featuring photoconductive antennas (PCAs) with a 22× improved photoresponse compared to top-illuminated designs, alongside scalable 1 × 4 PIN-PD and PCA arrays for enhanced power and directivity. (3) Beam steering at 300 GHz using a polymer-based optical phased array (OPA) integrated with an InP antenna array, achieving continuous steering across 20° and a 10.6 dB increase in output power. (4) Demonstration of fully integrated hybrid wireless transceiver PICs combining InP, Si₃N₄, and polymer material platforms, validated through key component characterization, on-chip optical frequency comb generation, and coherent beat note generation at 45 GHz. These advancements result in compact form factors, reduced power consumption, and enhanced scalability, positioning PICs as an enabling technology for future high-speed wireless networks. Full article

This work presents a cost-effective optical frequency comb generator (CEOFCG) solution for generating multiple, equally spaced carriers in wavelength-division-multiplexing coherent optical fiber communication systems (WDM-COFCS). It enables the replacement of multiple laser sources with a single continuous-wave laser, eliminating the need for additional amplification and filtering setups. The CEOFCG provides stable multicarrier spacing, broad phase coherence, and compatibility with advanced modulation formats, enhancing the performance of WDM-COFCS. Digital signal processing (DSP) techniques, including digital filtering, detection, and impairment compensation, contribute to high transmission and spectral efficiency (SE). The results demonstrate the potential of CEOFCG in achieving cost reduction, complexity reduction, high SE, and optimal utilization of optical fiber bandwidth, particularly in higher-order QAM-based COFCS. Full article

This study theoretically investigates the impact of comb spacing irregularity on the dynamics of optically injected semiconductor lasers using a rate equation model. Bifurcation analysis, time-domain simulations, spectral properties, and Mode Suppression Ratio (MSR) calculations reveal that equal spacing induces strong mode competition and chaos, while unequal spacing suppresses chaos and enhances stability. Interestingly, the Flipped comb exhibits similar behavior to the unequal comb, further supporting the conclusion that relative spacing—not spectral order—governs stability the Arbitrary combs, though lacking structured spacing, demonstrate intermediate suppression, indicating that breaking uniformity mitigates instability, but optimal spacing maximizes stabilization. Extending beyond previous studies on frequency comb injection, this work identifies spacing irregularity as a key mechanism for chaos control, offering new strategies for laser stabilization in optical communications and photonic integration. Full article

We propose and demonstrate a tunable femtosecond electro-optic optical frequency comb by shaping a continuous-wave seed laser in an all-fiber configuration. The seed laser, operating at 1.5 μm, is first cascade-phase-modulated and subsequently de-chirped to generate low-contrast pulses of approximately 8 ps at a repetition rate of 5.95 GHz. These pulses are then refined into clean, high-quality picosecond pulses using a Mamyshev regenerator. The generated source is further amplified using an erbium–ytterbium-doped fiber amplifier operating in a highly nonlinear regime, yielding output pulses compressed to around 470 fs. Tunable continuously across a 5.7~6 GHz range with a 1 MHz resolution, the picosecond pulses undergo nonlinear propagation in the final amplification stage, leading to output pulses that can be further compressed to a few hundred femtoseconds. By using a tunable bandpass filter, the center wavelength and spectral bandwidth can be flexibly tuned. This system eliminates the need for mode-locked cavities, simplifying conventional ultrafast electro-optic combs by relying solely on phase modulation, while delivering femtosecond pulses at multiple-gigahertz repetition rates. Full article

Optical frequency combs have been widely used in spectrum analysis, coherent optical communication, and accurate distance measurement. We propose a straightforward method to improve the flatness of optical frequency combs. First, we derived the output of the optical signal for the configuration of a cascaded MZM and two PMs. Second, we identified the parameter value when the flatness was optimal after traversing different parameter spaces. The optimal flatness conditions could be automatically determined from an existing sample dataset by using neural networks and Bayesian optimization, which significantly reduced the calculation cost. Furthermore, a broad spectrum and low power consumption were also achieved. Finally, the generated optical frequency comb signal was divided into eight carriers with 50 GHz intervals, and the optical transmission system was verified by applying a 16-QAM modulation of 40 GBaud/s to each channel. The constellation diagram proved the feasibility of this optical comb generation scheme. Full article

This paper presents a combined theoretical and experimental method for noise suppression in the repetition frequency (f_r) locking of erbium-doped fiber optical frequency combs (OFCs). This study proposed a novel mathematical model to bridge the noise relationship of f_r between the free-running and locked modes, and analyzed this relationship from two perspectives: the additional phase noise and the frequency stability. In addition, to integrate theoretical modeling with experimental validation, this study designed f_r locking strategy that uses a phase-locked loop (PLL) with PFD + PIID (a phase frequency detector and a proportional, first-order integer, second-order integer, first-order differential controller). Under synchronization of the f_r with a microwave reference (REF), this study achieved OFC additional frequency stabilities of 2.81 × 10⁻¹⁵@1 s and 8.08 × 10⁻¹⁹@10,000 s at 200 MHz fundamental frequency locking and 4.25 × 10⁻¹⁶@1 s and 1.91 × 10⁻¹⁹@10,000 s at 1200 MHz harmonic locking. The simulated and experimental results are in good agreement, confirming the consistency of the theoretical model and experiment. This work provides a reliable theoretical model that can be used to predict stability for OFC locking and significantly improves the additional frequency stability of OFCs. Full article