Abstract

Recent work in high-speed continuous phase modulation has been directed toward pulse compression, multiple wavelength generation, and beam smoothing for laser fusion. Previous efforts to produce broadband phase modulation using microwave driven electrooptic crystals have produced large bandwidths,¹ but modulation frequencies are limited and increasing bandwidth is difficult. This paper describes an all-optical phase modulator which uses lasers and optical fibers to easily produce modulation frequencies of several tens of gigahertz and band-widths of hundreds of gigahertz. Larger band-widths and modulation frequencies can be achieved by optimization of the laser sources and fiber parameters.

© 1991 Optical Society of America