1.5 /spl mu/m direct space-to-time pulse shaper utilizing a diffractive optical element for pattern generation

Summary from only given. We demonstrate the first operation of a direct space to time (DST) pulse shaper in the 1.55 /spl mu/m band, desirable for optical communications applications. Additionally we report the use of a phase-only diffractive optical element (DOE) for essentially loss-free spatial pattern generation at the input to the DST pulse shaper. Although phase-only filters are commonly used in the familiar Fourier transform pulse shaper, our current work constitutes the first application of phase-only filters for the DST pulse shaping configuration.