Apparatus for detecting optical signals or generating optical signals by modulation of optical carriers

摘要

The apparatus generates a reference light beam which is frequency or phase shifted or modulated or time shifted relative to the optical signal to be detected. The signal to be detected and/or the reference signal are aligned such that they can be brought into interference. A detector with demodulator determines amplitude modulation. This has a coupler for decoupling the resulting interference signal. A wavelength dependent element can change the angle or wavefront of the interfering beams in dependence on the wavelength. One of the detectors or the coupler is arranged such that a temporal or spatial modulation of the intensity can be measured. The wavelength difference of the interfering beams can be adjusted, whereby a selection of the interfering light components is carried out according to their coherency properties. Independent claims also cover the use of the apparatus and a method.