Abstract

We demonstrate all-optical storage of a picosecond- pulse packet of ones and zeros in a fiber buffer in which loss is compensated by parametric amplification. An all-fiber phase-sensitive parametric amplifier, which exploits a nonlinear Sagnac loop made of standard polarization-maintaining fiber to provide gain, regenerates the stored pulses on each round-trip. The parametric amplifier and the storage fiber combine to form a non-self-starting degenerate optical parametric oscillator. In such a device, the zeros do not build up from noise, and the phase-sensitive nature of the amplifier provides stability to the ones. In our experiment, 32-bit packets with different bit patterns are loaded and stored in the buffer. Storage for periods of time up to 1 ms has been observed and single-shot loading of the data packet is demonstrated. Data packets of 10’s of kilobits could be stored in this device with use of a higher repetition-rate pump source.

© 1997 Optical Society of America