title: Near quantum-limited, single-shot coherent arbitrary optical waveform measurements.
abstract: Four-quadrature spectral interferometry using balanced coherent detection enables single-shot full-field characterization of complex-shaped optical waveforms with near quantum-limited sensitivity. A 90 degrees optical hybrid places a waveform in four-quadrature-phases with a stronger, well-characterized reference pulse. Measurement of the four spectra with an integrating two-dimensional detector array followed by balanced detection uniquely determines the signal field. Balanced coherent detection provides common-mode noise rejection and coherent gain enabling near quantum-limited sensitivity. The single-shot waveform was temporally gated from a 100 ps periodic train of arbitrary optical waveforms generated using line-by-line pulse shaping on a 10 GHz optical frequency comb. The measurements show arbitrary waveforms with 200-ps record lengths, 500 GHz optical bandwidths and only 1200 detected photons.
authors: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, Davis, One Shields Ave., Davis, California 95616, USA. nkfontaine@ucdavis.edu
authors: Nicolas K
authors: NK
authors: Fontaine
authors: Ryan P
authors: RP
authors: Scott
authors: Jonathan P
authors: JP
authors: Heritage
authors: S J B
authors: SJ
authors: Yoo
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D004867:Equipment Design; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D055095:Optics and Photonics; D017785:Photons; D011789:Quantum Theory; D013997:Time Factors