Patent ID: 8655176

Claim:
A method of converting a first temporally short and spectrally broad optical pulse into a train of spectrally narrow and distinct optical pulses, the method comprising the steps of: receiving, on a first input/output (I/O) channel, the first temporally short and spectrally broad optical pulse associated with a plurality of wavelengths; performing wavelength division demultiplexing on the first temporally short and spectrally broad optical pulse at an optical unit housed on an optical chip to output a plurality of second optical pulses on different ones of a plurality of second I/O channels, each of the second optical pulses associated with a unique wavelength range from the first temporally short and spectrally broad optical pulse; receiving the second optical pulses at loop mirrors in the second I/O channels, wherein the second I/O channels are patterned as waveguides in the optical chip; reflecting, at the loop mirrors, the second optical pulses back to the optical unit; multiplexing, at the optical unit, the reflected second optical pulses into the train of spectrally narrow and distinct optical pulses, wherein each pulse in the optical pulse train is associated with a unique wavelength range from the wavelengths of the first temporally short and spectrally broad optical pulse; outputting the optical pulse train on the first I/O channel; receiving the optical pulse train at an optical circulator coupled to the first I/O channel; and separating, by the optical circulator, the optical pulse train outputted on the first I/O channel from an optical signal inputted on the first I/O channel.