Optical frequency shifter and optical soliton-like return-to-zero pulse

Abstract

An optical frequency shifter which has no insertion loss polarization dependency and no polarization mode dispersion is formed by: at least one ultrasonic wave generator for generating ultrasonic waves; at least one electric acousto-optic element forming at least one diffraction grating therein upon being applied with the ultrasonic waves generated by the ultrasonic wave generator; at least one polarization rotator for rotating a polarization plane of a first primary diffracted light produced by the diffraction grating, by 90.degree.; and a light path through which an input light is entered into the electric acousto-optic element at a Bragg angle of the diffraction grating in a prescribed direction side, the prescribed direction being defined as either identical or opposite to a propagation direction of the ultrasonic waves, so that the first primary diffracted light is produced by the diffraction grating from the input light, a polarization plane rotated light produced by the polarization rotator is entered into the electric acousto-optic element at a Bragg angle of the diffraction grating in the prescribed direction side, and a second primary diffracted light produced by the diffraction grating from the polarization plane rotated light is outputted as an output light. An optical soliton-like return-to-zero pulse transmission system using a combination of this optical frequency shifter and a fixed optical filter in an optical amplifier repeater is also disclosed.