In this paper, we describe our study on a novel high-frequency magnetic field probe based both on the BiRIG rotation magnetization (RM) phenomenon and the third-generation optical probing scheme. First, we explain our experimental investigation on RF sensitivity and frequency response of the RM-based Faraday effect in a commercially available Bi-substituted rare-earth iron garnet plate. Second, we report on the implementation of fiber-optic magneto-optic (MO) probe heads with bandwidths of 10 GHz or broader, which have been brought about by careful arrangement of the magnetization axis of a single-domain crystal and the highly sensitive fiber-edge optical probing scheme. Third, we describe a few RF magnetic field distribution measurements carried out successfully over GHz-band microstrip line circuits. The results of the study imply the substantial potential of the present MO probe head for the RF current visualization.

Novel functionality and material were developed for Si-photonics in this study. Ultra-fast silicon all optical switches using two-photon absorption (TPA) were developed in silicon nanowire optical waveguide on silicon-on-insulator substrate. This waveguide can produce high optical intensities that yield optical nonlinearity such as TPA even at input optical powers typically used in fiber optic communication systems. In addition, we fabricated a GaSb based quantum well (QW) on a Si substrate. The emission wavelength of QW was 1.55 µm at room temperature, so that the new function can be developed on Si-photonics using this QW.

By combining the technology of all-optical saturable absorbers and the diffractive optics, a scheme of all-optical time division demultiplexing module is investigated. Following authors' proposal, design, test fabrication of the optical platform in the previous paper, this paper focuses on the characterization of switching performance. Using a multiple quantum well saturable absorber of InGaAs/InAlAs composition, and gain switched semiconductor laser pulses of 25 ps pulse width, the switching function was demonstrated experimentally at wavelength of 1.55 µm. The switching on-off ratio was compared among 4 lens configuration, 2 lens configuration (2L) and free space, collinear geometry. No degradation was observed in the case of 2 lens configuration in comparison to collinear illumination. Thus the feasibility of all-optical switch module with power efficiency and high speed is predicted, under the assumption of the progress in sub-micron lithography.

We review recent progresses in our studies on the fiber-optic soliton compression and related subjects with special emphasis on dispersion-flattened fibers (DFFs). As for the ultimately short pulse generation, it has been demonstrated to compress 5 ps laser diode pulses down to 20 fs with a 15.1 m-long single-stage step-like dispersion profiled fiber employed. The compression was brought about through a series of the higher order soliton processes in conjunction with a single and ordinary erbium-doped fiber preamplifier, and DFFs contained at its end played a major role. We have performed intensive investigations on the DFF compression mechanisms in the 100-20 fs range. A fairly reliable model was developed for the higher order soliton propagation along a DFF in the temporal range from 100 down to 30 fs by taking into consideration the higher order nonlinear and dispersion effects as well as incident pulse shape dependence. Through the simulation, parametric spectrum generation originating from the modulation instability gain was pointed out at frequencies apart from the pump wave frequency, which agrees with the experimental observation. Its possible application is also discussed.

A novel optical modulation scheme is proposed for synthesizing a pair of dual-mode optical BPSK signals with an orthogonal phase relationship via a LiNbO3 Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM) with dual RF signal inputs and a carrier suppression feature, which enables the generation of a crosstalk-free QPSK signal at the photodetection stage. With this method, one can compensate the drawback, that is bandwidth broadening, in our previously proposed method where a dual-mode optical QPSK signal is generated on the basis of narrow-angle modulated QPSK signal injection into a double-sideband suppressed carrier MZM device. We have carried out experiments for 60 GHz performance demonstration of this QPSK signal generation mechanism, and the results indicate the effectiveness of the present scheme.