Objective
All-optical signal processing promises a route to unprecedented processing bandwidths - orders of magnitude greater than possible using electronics. Ultrafast optical processing offers the potential to revolutionise many existing fields of photonic applications including telecommunications, metrology, and optical sensing. It also promises to be a critical technology for other emerging disciplines including environmental science, biology, medicine and security. However, its application has been hindered by the lack of a number of critical components – in particular the availability of a high-power, low-noise, truly-broadband, optical signal synthesizer/arbitrary waveform generator operable up to the multi-THz regime. To develop such a device requires full control over the amplitude and phase of large-bandwidth high repetition rate optical signals which has been a challenge to date. Here, we propose to investigate one possible approach to realise a high performance, optical signal synthesizer based on the coherent superposition of multiple, phase locked lasers operating at spectrally-distant optical frequencies (e.g. on a 1 THz grid to allow THz pulse train generation). To achieve the high level of coherence among these lasers we propose to phase lock them to a high-quality optical ‘ruler’ (optical comb). This approach brings several important advantages over the direct use of line-filtered optical combs - the only other real alternative approach to date. These include: (i) a much larger line spacing (e.g. >1 THz, as opposed to 250 MHz – 10 GHz for conventional combs); (ii) far higher powers-per line (e.g. 50 mW, as opposed to ~1 µW for a typical comb) and; (iii) reduced demands on the associated filters and combiners. We propose to demonstrate the advantages and potential of our approach in a number of demanding telecom based optical signal processing applications and to explore other uses of the synthesiser in THz photonics, sensing and metrology.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering signal processing
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences environmental sciences
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering information engineering telecommunications
- natural sciences physical sciences optics laser physics
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IEF
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Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
SO17 1BJ SOUTHAMPTON
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.