Integrable optical correlator: Its temporal resolution, spectral response, and power sensitivity

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Abstract
A new class of optical correlator which is integrable and potentially compatible with semiconductor lasers is experimentally tested. The correlator proposed earlier (a special GaAs/AlGaAs waveguide) is shown to be broad band capable of correlating pulse trains with average power in the correlator in sub-mW range with wavelengths at least ranging from 1.06 to 1.7 μm. To show compatibility with semiconductor laser diodes the correlator device was also used to generate sum frequency signal from mixing a 400 μW cw beam of a 1.06 μm Nd:YAG laser with a 400 μW cw beam of a 1.3 μm semiconductor laser diode. The latest result shows the potential of direct measurement of optical pulses from semiconductor laser diodes at different wavelengths with a single integrable compact correlator without any mechanical translation.