초록 ▼

A system (100) for spatially addressing the synchronization of two light pulses (118, 120) having a respective wavelength. The system (100) includes two light sources (110, 114), each one generating one of the light pulses (118, 120) in response to receiving a respective source trigger. The light pu

A system (100) for spatially addressing the synchronization of two light pulses (118, 120) having a respective wavelength. The system (100) includes two light sources (110, 114), each one generating one of the light pulses (118, 120) in response to receiving a respective source trigger. The light pulses (118, 120) are combined and then distributed in many light guiding elements (104) in which propagation at the first and second wavelength takes a different amount of time, the differences between the propagation times at the first and second wavelengths differing between the light guiding elements (104). The source triggers are separated from each other by a variable delay in order to cause simultaneous arrival of the first and second pulses (118, 120) at the output of only one of the light guiding elements (104).

대표청구항 ▼

1. A system for spatially addressing generation of a non-linear interaction light, said non-linear interaction light being generated by an interaction between first and second light pulses having respectively first and second spectra, said first and second discrete spectra including respectively fir

1. A system for spatially addressing generation of a non-linear interaction light, said non-linear interaction light being generated by an interaction between first and second light pulses having respectively first and second spectra, said first and second discrete spectra including respectively first and a second wavelengths, said first and second wavelengths differing from each other, said system comprising: a first light source for generating said first light pulse in response to receiving a first source trigger and a second light source for generating said second light pulse in response to receiving a second source trigger;a first optical waveguide having a first waveguide length and a second optical waveguide having a second waveguide length, said first optical waveguide transmitting light having said first and second wavelengths respectively at first waveguide first and second wavelength velocities and said second optical waveguide transmitting light having said first and second wavelengths respectively at second waveguide first and second wavelength velocities, said first and second waveguide second wavelength velocities being respectively larger than said first and second waveguide first wavelength velocities;an optical coupling element optically coupled to said first and second light sources and to said first and second optical waveguides for collecting said first and second light pulses from said first and second light sources and splitting said first and second light pulses so that a first portion of said first and second light pulses is transmitted to said first optical waveguide and a second portion of said first and second light pulses is transmitted to said second optical waveguide;a first interaction material optically coupled to said first optical waveguide opposed to said optical coupling element, said first interaction material producing said non-linear interaction light when illuminated substantially simultaneously at said first and second wavelengths;a second interaction material optically coupled to said second optical waveguide opposed to said optical coupling element, said second interaction material producing said non-linear interaction light when illuminated substantially simultaneously at said first and second wavelengths; anda triggering element for generating said first and second source triggers, said triggering element being operatively coupled to said first and second light sources for providing respectively said first and second source triggers thereto, a trigger delay between said first and second source triggers being selectively adjustable such that said second light pulse is produced at one of a first predetermined delay and a second predetermined delay after said first light pulse to cause said first and second light pulses to be separated from each other respectively by first and second propagation time differentials when arriving at said first and second light guiding elements;wherein said first propagation time differential is equal to said first waveguide length divided by said first waveguide first wavelength velocity, from which is subtracted said first waveguide length divided by said first waveguide second wavelength velocity, and said second propagation time differential is equal to said second waveguide length divided by said second waveguide first wavelength velocity, from which is subtracted said second waveguide length divided by said second waveguide second wavelength velocity;whereby, when said first and second light pulses are separated from each other by said first predetermined delay, said non-linear interaction light is produced in said first interaction material, and when said first and second light pulses are separated from each other by said second predetermined delay, said non-linear interaction light is produced in said second interaction material. 2. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second optical waveguides are optical fibers. 3. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second waveguide lengths differ from each other. 4. A system as defined in claim 3, wherein said first waveguide first and second wavelength velocities are equal respectively to said second waveguide first and second wavelength velocities. 5. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second waveguide lengths are equal to each other, said first and second optical waveguides having different chromatic dispersion properties. 6. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second light sources is a laser. 7. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second interaction materials are difference frequency generation (DFG) materials. 8. A system as defined in claim 7, wherein said DFG materials each include a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) crystal or a chirped PPLN crystal. 9. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second interaction materials are sum frequency generation (SFG) materials. 10. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second interaction materials are four wave mixing (FWM) materials. 11. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein said optical coupling element is a combination optical combiner/optical splitter. 12. A system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a first output port optically coupled to said first interaction material for collecting said non-linear interaction light therefrom and releasing said non-linear interaction light, said first output port including a first optical filter absorbing said first and second wavelengths; anda second output port optically coupled to said second interaction material for collecting said non-linear interaction light therefrom and releasing said non-linear interaction light, said second output port including a second optical filter absorbing said first and second wavelengths. 13. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein said triggering element includes a trigger generator for generating a trigger signal, said trigger generator being connected to said first light source and to said second light source, said triggering element also including a delay element inserted between said trigger generator and said second light source for retarding transmission of said trigger signal, said first source trigger being said trigger signal and said second source trigger being said trigger signal delayed by said delay element. 14. A system for spatially addressing the generation of a non-linear interaction light, said non-linear interaction light being generated by an interaction between first and second light pulses having respectively first and second discrete spectra, said first and second discrete spectra including respectively a first wavelength and a second wavelength, said first and second wavelengths differing from each other, said system comprising: a first light source for generating said first light pulse in response to receiving a first source trigger;a second light source for generating said second light pulse in response to receiving a second source trigger;a first light guiding element, said first light guiding element being optically coupled to said first and second light sources for receiving a first pulse first portion of said first light pulse and a second pulse first portion of said second light pulse and propagating said first and second pulse first portions therethrough, said first light guiding element being such that said first and second pulse first portions take respectively first and second pulse first portion propagation times to propagate therethrough, said second pulse first portion propagation time being smaller than said first pulse first portion propagation time by a first propagation time differential;a second light guiding element, said second light guiding element being optically coupled to said first and second light sources for receiving a first pulse second portion of said first light pulse and a second pulse second portion of said second light pulse and propagating said first and second pulse second portions therethrough, said second light guiding element being such that said first and second pulse second portions take respectively first and second pulse second portion propagation times to propagate therethrough, said second pulse second portion propagation time being smaller than said first pulse second portion propagation time by a second propagation time differential;a first interaction material optically coupled to said first light guiding element for receiving said first and second pulse first portions after propagation of said first and second pulse first portions through said first light guiding element, said first interaction material producing said non-linear interaction light when said first and second pulse first portions arrive substantially simultaneously in said first interaction material;a second interaction material optically coupled to said second light guiding element for receiving said first and second pulse second portions after propagation of said first and second pulse second portions through said second light guiding element, said second interaction material producing said non-linear interaction light when said first and second pulse second portions arrive substantially simultaneously in said second interaction material;a triggering element operatively coupled to said first and second light sources for providing respectively said first and second source triggers thereto, a trigger delay between said first and second source triggers being selectively adjustable between a first predetermined delay and a second predetermined delay;wherein, when said first predetermined delay is selected, said second pulse first portion arrives at said first light guiding element after said first pulse first portion and is separated therefrom by said first propagation time differential, and, when said second predetermined delay is selected, said second pulse second portion arrives at said second light guiding element after said first pulse second portion and is separated therefrom by said second propagation time differential;whereby, when said first and second light pulses are separated by said first propagation time differential, said non-linear interaction light is produced in said first interaction material, and when said first and second light pulses are separated by said second propagation time differential, said non-linear interaction light is produced in said second interaction material. 15. A system as defined in claim 14, wherein at least one of said first and second light guiding elements includes an optical fiber optically coupled to said first and second light sources for transmitting respectively said first and second pulse first portions or said first and second pulse second portions therethrough. 16. A system as defined in claim 14, wherein said first light guiding element includes a pair of optical fibers, each optical fiber being optically coupled to a respective one of said first and second light sources for transmitting respectively said first and second pulse first portions therethrough. 17. A system as defined in claim 14, wherein said second light guiding element includes a pair of optical fibers, each optical fiber being optically coupled to a respective one of said first and second light sources for transmitting respectively said first and second pulse second portions therethrough. 18. A method for selecting a location at which a first light pulse and a second light pulse are synchronized, said method comprising: selecting a selected delay from the group consisting of a first predetermined delay and a second predetermined delay;generating said first light pulse, said first light pulse having a first discrete spectrum, said first discrete spectrum including a first wavelength;generating said second light pulse, said second light pulse having a second discrete spectrum, said second discrete spectrum including a second wavelength differing from said first wavelength, said second light pulse being generated after said first light pulse following said selected delay;propagating a first pulse first portion of said first light pulse and a second pulse first portion of said second light pulse in a first optical waveguide;propagating a first pulse second portion of said first light pulse and a second pulse second portion of said second light pulse in a second optical waveguide;wherein said first optical waveguide is selected to have geometrical and optical properties such said first and second pulse first portions travel through said first optical waveguide in a time equal respectively to a first light first waveguide time and a second light first waveguide time, said second light first waveguide time being equal to said first light first waveguide time minus said first predetermined delay; andsaid second optical waveguide is selected to have geometrical and optical properties such said first and second pulse second portions travel through said second optical waveguide in a time equal respectively to a first light second waveguide time and a second light second waveguide time, said second light second waveguide time being equal to said first light second waveguide time minus said second predetermined delay;whereby by selecting said first predetermined delay, said first and second light pulses have portions thereof that are synchronous when exiting said first optical waveguide and by selecting said second predetermined delay, said first and second light pulses have portions thereof that are synchronous when exiting said second optical waveguide. 19. A system for spatially addressing the synchronization of at least first and second light pulses having respectively first and second discrete spectra, said first and second discrete spectra including respectively a first wavelength and a second wavelength, said first and second wavelengths differing from each other, said system comprising: a first light source for generating said first light pulse in response to receiving a first source trigger;a second light source for generating said second light pulse in response to receiving a second source trigger;a first light guiding element, said first light guiding element being optically coupled to said first and second light sources for receiving a first pulse first portion of said first light pulse and a second pulse first portion of said second light pulse and propagating said first and second pulse first portions therethrough, said first light guiding element being such that said first and second pulse first portions take respectively first and second pulse first portion propagation times to propagate therethrough, said second pulse first portion propagation time being smaller than said first pulse first portion propagation time by a first propagation time differential;a second light guiding element, said second light guiding element being optically coupled to said first and second light sources for receiving a first pulse second portion of said first light pulse and a second pulse second portion of said second light pulse and propagating said first and second pulse second portions therethrough, said second light guiding element being such that said first and second pulse second portions take respectively first and second pulse second portion propagation times to propagate therethrough, said second pulse second portion propagation time being smaller than said first pulse second portion propagation time by a second propagation time differential; anda triggering element operatively coupled to said first and second light sources for providing said first and second source triggers thereto, a delay between said first and second source triggers being selectively adjustable between a first predetermined delay and a second predetermined delay;wherein, when said first predetermined delay is selected, said second pulse first portion arrives at said first light guiding element after said first pulse first portion and is separated therefrom by said first propagation time differential, and, when said second predetermined delay is selected, said second pulse second portion arrives at said second light guiding element after said first pulse second portion and is separated therefrom by said second propagation time differential;whereby, when said first and second pulse first portions are separated by said first propagation time differential, said first and second light pulses have portions thereof that are synchronous when exiting said first light guiding element, and when said first and second pulse second portions are separated by said second propagation time differential, said first and second light pulses have portions thereof that are synchronous when exiting said second light guiding element.