Sampled fiber gratings for picosecond time delay signal processing

Sampled fiber grating for high-resolution time-domain signal processing is investigated. Sampled fiber grating is useful to introduce precise time delays in picosecond (ps) across many wavelength channels. We analyze and simulate for Sinc2 sampled fiber grating, and show that a large number linear sub-ps time delays can be achieved by the grating. We present that Gaussian sampled fiber gratings can be fabricated by inscribing optical fiber by Gaussian laser beam, and can realize short time delays over a number of wavelength channels with a required time delay profile. For a Gaussian sampled fiber grating fabricated, an average time delay step of 4.49 ps with 10% linearity for 8 wavelength channels, and an average delay step of 2.5 ps with 8% linearity if for 4 channels, are realized. A physical model of cascaded equivalent Fabry-Perot cavities together with rectangular truncation of the inscription laser beam for the Gaussian sampled refractive index is suggested, and used to explain the grating spectra. A technique for time delay step tunability of the grating is presented. Some issues are discussed with conclusions given. We demonstrate that the sampled fiber gratings have capability to provide a large number of picosecond time delays with good linearity. This offers a simple technique for ps-high-resolution signal processing in time-domain and THz signal generation.