Restoring optical pulses

Abstract

In one embodiment of the present invention, a method includes introducing an optical signal into a first arm and a second arm of an optical device; self-phase modulating the optical signal propagating in the first arm; and outputting a high intensity portion of the optical signal spatially separated from a low intensity portion of the optical signal. In such manner, optical signals input into the optical device may be restored via cleaning and shaping.

1 . A method comprising: 
 introducing an optical signal into a first arm and a second arm of an optical device;    self-phase modulating the optical signal propagating in the first arm; and    outputting a high intensity portion of the optical signal spatially separated from a low intensity portion of the optical signal.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the self-phase modulating comprises π-phase retarding the optical signal propagating in the first arm.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising outputting the high intensity portion of the optical signal on a first waveguide.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using a nonlinear optical medium of the first arm to perform the self-phase modulating.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising equally separating the optical signal into a first portion and a second portion prior to introduction into the first arm and the second arm.  
   
   
       6 . A method comprising: 
 separating an optical pulse into a first pulse portion propagating through a first arm of an optical device and a second pulse portion propagating through a second arm of the optical device;    self-phase modulating the first pulse portion in the first arm;    combining the first pulse portion and the second pulse portion into an output optical signal; and    outputting a high intensity portion of the output optical signal spatially separated from a low intensity portion of the output optical signal.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the self-phase modulating comprises π-phase retarding the first pulse portion.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising outputting the high intensity portion on a first waveguide.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising using a nonlinear optical medium of the first arm to perform the self-phase modulating.