Optical burst switching (OBS) is a promising candidate for a more dynamic optical layer in the context of IP over WDM. Although buffering is not mandatory for the functionality of OBS, even simple FDL buffers can improve burst loss probability. In this paper, we first discuss principal buffer architectures and reservation schemes for fiber delay line (FDL) buffers. Then, we investigate key desi...

We have designed and constructed a custom far-infrared Fourier transform spectrometer using an antenna-coupled bolometer as a detector. The active element of the detector is a superconducting niobium microbridge, and the far-infrared signal is coupled to the microbridge via a planar antenna mounted on a hyperhemispherical silicon lens. The spectrometer uses a broadband blackbody source with fre...

Laser interferometers may detect gravitational waves by sensing the strain in space produced by their passage. The resultant change in intensity of an interference fringe must be observable against a background noise due to the statistical fluctuations in the number of detected photons. Optimization of the detector sensitivity thus involves devising an optical system which both maximizes the si...

Practical clinical optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems require automatic tools for identifying and correcting flaws in OCT images. One type of flaw is the loss of image detail owing to the dispersion of the medium, which in most cases is unknown. We present an autofocus algorithm for estimating the delay line and material dispersion from OCT reflectance data, integrating a previously pre...

Recent experiments have demonstrated the possibility of optically changing the group velocity of an optical pulse as it travels through a material [1-4]. These experiments have shown that it is possible to slow the speed of light up to nearly stopping it [2] and also faster-than-light propagation of the pulse envelope (although not its information) has been demonstrated [3]. The possibility of ...

We present the enabling concept and technology for a dual spacecraft formation-flying optical interferometer, to be launched into a deep space orbit as Space Technology 3. The combiner spacecraft makes use of a nested cat’s eye delay line configuration that minimizes wavefront distortion and stores 20 m of optical pathlength in a package of ∼ 1.5 m length. A parabolic trajectory for the seconda...

The 5017 delay lines system, incorporates a high-speed lasers and photodiodes to provide exceptionally high performance. The unit provides high bandwidth and sensitivity to operate with large delays, plus wide dynamic range for operation over a variety of loss budgets.

A high speed swept source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) system capable of full-range imaging is presented. Wave-number carrier frequency is introduced into the spectral interference signal by a transmissive dispersive optical delay line (TDODL). High carrier frequency in the spectral interference signal corresponding to an equivalent distance-shift is exploited to obtain full-range OCT ...

During the last few years, new synchronization techniques to send data between IC’s at increasingly high datarates have been developed. Some of them rely on digital delay lines. The timing accuracy of the delay lines is crucial for a good functionality of the synchronization mechanism. This paper will present a strategy to measure the tap-delays of a digital delay-line, using the well-known osc...