Application of phase conjugate optics to optical systems

Claim 2

A phase conjugate light generation apparatus, comprising: a non-linear optical medium; a pump light source for outputting pump light; signal light/pump light supply means connected to a signal light input port, for supplying input signal light supplied to the signal light input port to said non-linear optical medium together with the pump light from said pump light source; and signal light/phase conjugate light extraction means for extracting output signal light and phase conjugate light generated by an interaction between the input signal light and the pump light supplied to said non-linear optical medium and outputting the output signal light and the phase conjugate light from a signal light output port and a phase conjugate light output port, respectively; wherein said signal light/pump light supply means comprises an optical coupler having first to third ports connected to said signal light input port, said pump light source and a first end of said non-linear optical medium, respectively, for outputting light supplied to said first and second ports from said third port thereof.

Claim 3

A phase conjugate light generation apparatus comprising: a non-linear optical medium; a pump light source for outputting pump light; signal light/pump light supply means connected to a signal light input port, for supplying input signal light supplied to the signal light input port to said non-linear optical medium together with the pump light from said pump light source; and signal light/phase conjugate light extraction means for extracting output signal light and phase conjugate light generated by an interaction between the input signal light and the pump light supplied to said non-linear optical medium and outputting the output signal light and the phase conjugate light from a signal light output port and a phase conjugate light output port, respectively; wherein said non-linear optical medium generates the phase conjugate light by four-light wave mixture of a one-directional pumping type; and said signal light/phase conjugate light extraction means comprising an optical divider having first to third ports and connected at said first port thereof to a second end of said non-linear optical medium for splitting light supplied to said first port into two beams of light and outputting the two beams of light from said second and third ports thereof, a first optical filter interposed in an optical path between said second port of said optical divider and said signal light output port and having a pass band which includes a frequency of the output signal light, and a second optical filter interposed in an optical path between said third port of said optical divider and said phase conjugate light output port and having a pass band which includes a frequency of the phase conjugate light.

Claim 4

A phase conjugate light generation apparatus comprising: a non-linear optical medium; a pump light source for outputting pump light; signal light/pump light supply means connected to a signal light input port, for supplying input signal light supplied to the signal light input port to said non-linear optical medium together with the pump light from said pump light source; and signal light/phase conjugate light extraction means for extracting output signal light and phase conjugate light generated by an interaction between the input signal light and the pump light supplied to said non-linear optical medium and outputting the output signal light and the phase conjugate light from a signal light output port and a phase conjugate light output port, respectively; wherein said non-linear optical medium generates the phase conjugate light by four-light wave mixture of a one-directional pumping type; and said signal light/phase conjugate light extraction means comprising an optical divider having first to third ports and connected at said first port thereof to a second end of said non-linear optical medium for splitting light supplied to said first port into two beams of light and outputting the two beams of light from said second and third ports thereof, a first optical filter interposed in an optical path between said second port of said optical divider and said signal light output port and having a pass band which includes a frequency of the output signal light, and a second optical filter interposed in an optical path between said third port of said optical divider and said phase conjugate light output port and having a pass band which includes a frequency of the phase conjugate light.

Claim 5

A phase conjugate light generation apparatus, comprising: a non-linear optical medium; a pump light source for outputting pump light; signal light/pump light supply means connected to a signal light input port, for supplying input signal light supplied to the signal light input port to said non-linear optical medium together with the pump light from said pump light source; and signal light/phase conjugate light extraction means for extracting output signal light and phase conjugate light generated by an interaction between the input signal light and the pump light supplied to said non-linear optical medium and outputting the output signal light and the phase conjugate light from a signal light output port and a phase conjugate light output port, respectively; said pump light source comprising first and second pump light sources for outputting beams of pump light having equal frequencies to each other; and said signal light/pump light supply means comprising a first optical coupler having first to third ports and connected at said second port thereof to said first pump light source and at said third port thereof to a first end of said pump light source, for outputting light supplied to said first and second ports from said third port thereof and for outputting light supplied to said third port from said first port thereof, and a second optical coupler having first to third ports and connected at said first port thereof to a second end of said non-linear optical medium and at said second port thereof to said second pump light source, for outputting light supplied to said first port from said third port thereof and for outputting light supplied to said second port from said first port thereof.

Claim 6

A phase conjugate light generation apparatus, comprising: a non-linear optical medium; a pump light source for outputting pump light; signal light/pump light supply means connected to a signal light input port, for supplying input signal light supplied to the signal light input port to said non-linear optical medium together with the pump light from said pump light source; and signal light/phase conjugate light extraction means for extracting output signal light and phase conjugate light generated by an interaction between the input signal light and the pump light supplied to said non-linear optical medium and outputting the output signal light and the phase conjugate light from a signal light output port and a phase conjugate light output port, respectively; said pump light source comprising first and second pump light sources for outputting beams of pump light having equal frequencies to each other; and said signal light/pump light supply means comprising a first optical coupler having first to third ports and connected at said second port thereof to said first pump light source and at said third port thereof to a first end of said pump light source, for outputting light supplied to said first and second ports from said third port thereof and for outputting light supplied to said third port from said first port thereof, and a second optical coupler having first to third ports and connected at said first port thereof to a second end of said non-linear optical medium and at said second port thereof to said second pump light source, for outputting light supplied to said first port from said third port thereof and for outputting light supplied to said second port from said first port thereof.

Claim 7

A phase conjugate light generation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: said non-linear optical medium generates the phase conjugate light by four-light wave mixture of a bi-directional pumping type; and said signal light/phase conjugate light extraction means comprises an optical divider having first to third ports and connected at said first port thereof to said signal light input port and at said third port thereof to said first port of said first optical coupler, for outputting light supplied to said first port from said third port thereof and for outputting light supplied to said third port from said second port thereof, a first optical filter interposed in an optical path between said third port of said second optical coupler and said signal light output port and having a pass band which includes a frequency of the output signal light, and a second optical filter interposed in an optical path between said second port of said optical divider and said phase conjugate light output port and having a pass band which includes a frequency of the phase conjugate light.

Claim 8

A phase conjugate light generation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: said non-linear optical medium generates the phase conjugate light by four-light wave mixture of a bi-directional pumping type; said phase conjugate light output port comprises first and second phase conjugate light output ports; and said signal light/phase conjugate light extraction means comprises a first optical divider having first to third ports and connected at said first port thereof to said third port of said second optical coupler for splitting light supplied to said first port thereof, a first optical filter interposed in an optical path between said second port of said first optical divider and said signal light output port and having a pass band which includes a frequency of the output signal light, a second optical filter interposed in an optical path between said third port of said first optical divider and said first phase conjugate light output port and having a pass band which includes a frequency of the phase conjugate light, a second optical divider having first to third ports and connected at said first port thereof to said signal light input port and at said third port thereof to said first port of said first optical coupler, for outputting light supplied to said first port from said third port thereof and for outputting light supplied to said third port from said second port thereof, and a third optical filter interposed in an optical path between said second port of said second optical divider and said second phase conjugate light output port and having a pass band which includes the frequency of the phase conjugate light.

Claim 9

A phase conjugate light generation apparatus, comprising: a non-linear optical medium; a pump light source for outputting pump light; signal light/pump light supply means connected to a signal light input port, for supplying input signal light supplied to the signal light input port to said non-linear optical medium together with the pump light from said pump light source; signal light/phase conjugate light extraction means for extracting output signal light and phase conjugate light generated by an interaction between the input signal light and the pump light supplied to said non-linear optical medium and outputting the output signal light and the phase conjugate light from a signal light output port and a phase conjugate light output port, respectively; and modulation means for modulating the pump light in accordance with input data, wherein said modulation means modulates a frequency of the pump light.

Claim 10

A phase conjugate light generation apparatus, comprising: a non-linear optical medium; a pump light source for outputting pump light; signal light/pump light supply means connected to a signal light input port, for supplying input signal light supplied to the signal light input port to said non-linear optical medium together with the pump light from said pump light source; signal light/phase conjugate light extraction means for extracting output signal light and phase conjugate light generated by an interaction between the input signal light and the pump light supplied to said non-linear optical medium and outputting the output signal light and the phase conjugate light from a signal light output port and a phase conjugate light output port, respectively; and modulation means for modulating the pump light in accordance with input data, wherein said modulation means modulates a frequency of the pump light.

Claim 11

A repeater optical transmission system, comprising: a sending station; a receiving station; an optical transmission line laid between said sending station and said receiving station; and at least one repeating station interposed intermediately of said optical transmission line; said at least one repeating station including a phase conjugate light generation apparatus, wherein said phase conjugate light generation apparatus comprises a non-linear optical medium, a pump light source for outputting pump light, signal light/pump light supply means connected to a signal light input port, for supplying input signal light supplied to the signal light input port to said non-linear optical medium together with the pump light from said pump light source, signal light/phase conjugate light extraction means for extracting output signal light and phase conjugate light generated by an interaction between the input signal light and the pump light supplied to said non-linear optical medium and outputting the output signal light and the phase conjugate light from a signal light output port and a phase conjugate light output port, respectively, and said phase conjugate light generation apparatus receiving light supplied thereto from the side of said sending station as the input signal light and sending out the phase conjugate light toward the side of said receiving station.

Claim 12

A repeater optical transmission system, comprising: a sending station; a receiving station; an optical transmission line laid between said sending station and said receiving station; and at least one repeating station interposed intermediately of said optical transmission line; said at least one repeating station including a phase conjugate light generation apparatus, wherein said phase conjugate light generation apparatus comprises a non-linear optical medium, a pump light source for outputting pump light, signal light/pump light supply means connected to a signal light input port, for supplying input signal light supplied to the signal light input port to said non-linear optical medium together with the pump light from said pump light source, signal light/phase conjugate light extraction means for extracting output signal light and phase conjugate light generated by an interaction between the input signal light and the pump light supplied to said non-linear optical medium and outputting the output signal light and the phase conjugate light from a signal light output port and a phase conjugate light output port, respectively, and said phase conjugate light generation apparatus receiving light supplied thereto from the side of said sending station as the input signal light and sending out the phase conjugate light toward the side of said receiving station.

Claim 13

A repeater optical transmission system according to claim 7, wherein said at least one repeating station further comprises modulation means for modulating the pump light in accordance with input data, and the input data includes supervision data of said repeating station.

Claim 14

A repeater optical transmission system according to claim 7, wherein light to be sent out from said sending station is modulated in accordance with transmission data, and said at least one repeating station further comprises demodulation means for receiving the phase conjugate light generated by said phase conjugate light generation apparatus and reproducing demodulated data corresponding to the transmission data.

Claim 15

A repeater optical transmission system according to claim 7, wherein: said at least one repeating station is a plurality of repeating stations; said signal light input port of said phase conjugate light generation apparatus of a first one of the plurality of repeating stations as counted from the side of said sending station is connected to said sending station; said signal light input port of said phase conjugate light generation apparatus of an nth (n being a natural number greater than 1) one of said plurality of repeating stations as counted from the side of said sending station is connected to said phase conjugate light output port of said phase conjugate light generation apparatus of the (n-1)th repeating station; and said phase conjugate light output port of said phase conjugate light generation apparatus of a first one of said plurality of repeating stations as counted from the side of said receiving station is connected to said receiving station.

Claim 16

A bi-directional repeater optical transmission system, comprising: a first sending/receiving station having a first optical transmitter and a first optical receiver; a second sending/receiving station having a second optical transmitter and a second optical receiver; ascending and descending optical transmission lines laid between said first and second sending/receiving stations; at least one repeating station interposed intermediately of said ascending and descending optical transmission lines; said at least one repeating station comprising a phase conjugate light generation apparatus, wherein said phase conjugate light generation apparatus comprises a non-linear optical medium, a pump light source for outputting pump light, signal light/pump light supply means connected to a signal light input port, for supplying input signal light supplied to the signal light input port to said non-linear optical medium together with the pump light from said pump light source, and signal light/phase conjugate light extraction means for extracting output signal light and phase conjugate light generated by an interaction between the input signal light and the pump light supplied to said non-linear optical medium and outputting the output signal light and the phase conjugate light, from a signal light output port and a phase conjugate light output port, respectively, said pump light source of said phase conjugate light generation apparatus comprising first and second pump light sources for outputting first pump light and second pump light, respectively, said phase conjugate light output port of said phase conjugate light generation apparatus comprising first and second phase conjugate light output ports, said phase conjugate light generation apparatus receiving light supplied to said signal light input port thereof from the side of said first sending/receiving station as first signal light, generating first phase conjugate light in accordance with the first signal light and the first pump light, sending out the first phase conjugate light from said first phase conjugate light output port thereof toward the side of said second sending/receiving station, receiving light supplied to said signal light output port thereof from the side of said second sending/receiving station as second signal light, generating second phase conjugate light in accordance with the second signal light and the second pump light, and sending out the second phase conjugate light from said second phase conjugate light output port thereof toward the side of said first sending/receiving station.

Claim 17

A bi-directional repeater optical transmission system, comprising: a first sending/receiving station having a first optical transmitter and a first optical receiver; a second sending/receiving station having a second optical transmitter and a second optical receiver; ascending and descending optical transmission lines laid between said first and second sending/receiving stations; at least one repeating station interposed intermediately of said ascending and descending optical transmission lines; said at least one repeating station comprising a phase conjugate light generation apparatus, wherein said phase conjugate light generation apparatus comprises a non-linear optical medium, a pump light source for outputting pump light, signal light/pump light supply means connected to a signal light input port, for supplying input signal light supplied to the signal light input port to said non-linear optical medium together with the pump light from said pump light source, and signal light/phase conjugate light extraction means for extracting output signal light and phase conjugate light generated by an interaction between the input signal light and the pump light supplied to said non-linear optical medium and outputting the output signal light and the phase conjugate light, from a signal light output port and a phase conjugate light output port, respectively, said pump light source of said phase conjugate light generation apparatus comprising first and second pump light sources for outputting first pump light and second pump light, respectively, said phase conjugate light output port of said phase conjugate light generation apparatus comprising first and second phase conjugate light output ports, said phase conjugate light generation apparatus receiving light supplied to said signal light input port thereof from the side of said first sending/receiving station as first signal light, generating first phase conjugate light in accordance with the first signal light and the first pump light, sending out the first phase conjugate light from said first phase conjugate light output port thereof toward the side of said second sending/receiving station, receiving light supplied to said signal light output port thereof from the side of said second sending/receiving station as second signal light, generating second phase conjugate light in accordance with the second signal light and the second pump light, and sending out the second phase conjugate light from said second phase conjugate light output port thereof toward the side of said first sending/receiving station.

Claim 18

A bi-directional repeater optical transmission system according to claim 11, wherein: said at least one repeating station is a plurality of repeating stations; said signal light input port and said second phase conjugate light output port of said phase conjugate light generation apparatus of a first one of the plurality of repeating stations as counted from the side of said first sending/receiving station are connected to said first optical transmitter and said first optical receiver, respectively; said signal light input port and said second phase conjugate light output port of said phase conjugate light generation apparatus of an nth (n being a natural number greater than 1) one of said plurality of repeating stations as counted from the side of said first sending/receiving station is connected to said first phase conjugate light output port and said signal light output port of said phase conjugate light generation apparatus of the (n-1)th repeating station, respectively; and said signal light output port and said first phase conjugate light output port of said phase conjugate light generation apparatus of a first one of said plurality of repeating stations as counted from the side of said second sending/receiving station is connected to said second optical transmitter and said second optical receiver, respectively.

Claim 19

An optical distribution system, comprising: a plurality of phase conjugate light generation apparatuses, each comprising: a non-linear optical medium; a pump light source for outputting pump light; signal light/pump light supply means connected to a signal light input port, for supplying input signal light supplied to the signal light input port to said non-linear optical medium together with the pump light from said pump light source; and signal light/phase conjugate light extraction means for extracting output signal light and phase conjugate light generated by an interaction between the input signal light and the pump light supplied to said non-linear optical medium and outputting the output signal light and the phase conjugate light from a signal light output port and a phase conjugate light output port, respectively; said signal light output port and said phase conjugate light output port of an upper order one of each pair of adjacent ones of said plurality of phase conjugate light generation apparatuses being connected to said signal light input port of a lower order one phase conjugate light generation apparatus of the pair.

Claim 20

An optical distribution system, comprising: a plurality of phase conjugate light generation apparatuses, each comprising: a non-linear optical medium; a pump light source for outputting pump light; signal light/pump light supply means connected to a signal light input port, for supplying input signal light supplied to the signal light input port to said non-linear optical medium together with the pump light from said pump light source; and signal light/phase conjugate light extraction means for extracting output signal light and phase conjugate light generated by an interaction between the input signal light and the pump light supplied to said non-linear optical medium and outputting the output signal light and the phase conjugate light from a signal light output port and a phase conjugate light output port, respectively; said signal light output port and said phase conjugate light output port of an upper order one of each pair of adjacent ones of said plurality of phase conjugate light generation apparatuses being connected to said signal light input port of a lower order one phase conjugate light generation apparatus of the pair.

Claim 21

An optical switching system, comprising: a phase conjugate light generation apparatus comprising a non-linear optical medium, a pump light source for outputting pump light, signal light/pump light supply means connected to a signal light input port, for supplying input signal light supplied to the signal light input port to said non-linear optical medium together with the pump light from said pump light source, signal light/phase conjugate light extraction means for extracting output signal light and phase conjugate light generated by an interaction between the input signal light and the pump light supplied to said non-linear optical medium and outputting the output signal light and the phase conjugate light from a signal light output port and a phase conjugate light output port, respectively; switching means for switching said pump light source of said phase conjugate light generation apparatus on and off; wherein said optical switching system switches, in response to operation of said switching means, between a condition wherein the phase conjugate light is generated and another condition wherein the phase conjugate light is not generated.

Claim 22

An optical switching system, comprising: a phase conjugate light generation apparatus comprising a non-linear optical medium, a pump light source for outputting pump light, signal light/pump light supply means connected to a signal light input port, for supplying input signal light supplied to the signal light input port to said non-linear optical medium together with the pump light from said pump light source, signal light/phase conjugate light extraction means for extracting output signal light and phase conjugate light generated by an interaction between the input signal light and the pump light supplied to said non-linear optical medium and outputting the output signal light and the phase conjugate light from a signal light output port and a phase conjugate light output port, respectively; switching means for switching said pump light source of said phase conjugate light generation apparatus on and off; wherein said optical switching system switches, in response to operation of said switching means, between a condition wherein the phase conjugate light is generated and another condition wherein the phase conjugate light is not generated.

Claim 23

An optical channel selection system, comprising: a phase conjugate light generation apparatus comprising a non-linear optical medium, a pump light source for outputting pump light, signal light/pump light supply means connected to a signal light input port, for supplying input signal light supplied to the signal light input port to said non-linear optical medium together with the pump light from said pump light source, and signal light/phase conjugate light extraction means for extracting output signal light and phase conjugate light generated by an interaction between the input signal light and the pump light supplied to said non-linear optical medium and outputting the output signal light and the phase conjugate light from a signal light output port and a phase conjugate light output port, respectively; sweeping means for sweeping a frequency of the pump light of said phase conjugate light generation apparatus; a plurality of kinds of frequency division multiplexed signal light being supplied to said signal light input port of said phase conjugate light generation apparatus; and phase conjugate light corresponding to signal light alternatively selected from the plurality of kinds of signal light being generated in response to operation of said sweeping means.

Claim 24

An optical channel selection system, comprising: a phase conjugate light generation apparatus comprising a non-linear optical medium, a pump light source for outputting pump light, signal light/pump light supply means connected to a signal light input port, for supplying input signal light supplied to the signal light input port to said non-linear optical medium together with the pump light from said pump light source, and signal light/phase conjugate light extraction means for extracting output signal light and phase conjugate light generated by an interaction between the input signal light and the pump light supplied to said non-linear optical medium and outputting the output signal light and the phase conjugate light from a signal light output port and a phase conjugate light output port, respectively; sweeping means for sweeping a frequency of the pump light of said phase conjugate light generation apparatus; a plurality of kinds of frequency division multiplexed signal light being supplied to said signal light input port of said phase conjugate light generation apparatus; and phase conjugate light corresponding to signal light alternatively selected from the plurality of kinds of signal light being generated in response to operation of said sweeping means.

Claim 25

An optical AND circuit system, comprising: a phase conjugate light generation apparatus, comprising a non-linear optical medium, a pump light source for outputting pump light, signal light/pump light supply means connected to a signal light input port, for supplying input signal light supplied to the signal light input port to said non-linear optical medium together with the pump light from said pump light source, and signal light/phase conjugate light extraction means for extracting output signal light and phase conjugate light generated by an interaction between the input signal light and the pump light supplied to said non-linear optical medium and outputting the output signal light and the phase conjugate light from a signal light output port and a phase conjugate light output port, respectively; said pump light source comprising first and second pump light sources for outputting beams of pump light having equal frequencies to each other; said signal light/pump light supply means comprising a first optical coupler having first to third ports and connected at said second port thereof to said first pump light source and at said third port thereof to a first end of said pump light source, for outputting light supplied to said first and second ports from said third port thereof and for outputting light supplied to said third port from said first port thereof, and a second optical coupler having first to third ports and connected at said first port thereof to a second end of said non-linear optical medium and at said second port thereof to said second pump light source for outputting light supplied to said first port from said third port thereof and for outputting light supplied to said second port from said first port thereof; and pump light control means for varying the light emission intensities of said first and second pump light sources of said phase conjugate light generation apparatus in accordance with high and low levels of first and second input logic data, respectively; the phase conjugate light being generated when both of the first and second input logic data have the high level.

Claim 26

An optical AND circuit system, comprising: a phase conjugate light generation apparatus, comprising a non-linear optical medium, a pump light source for outputting pump light, signal light/pump light supply means connected to a signal light input port, for supplying input signal light supplied to the signal light input port to said non-linear optical medium together with the pump light from said pump light source, and signal light/phase conjugate light extraction means for extracting output signal light and phase conjugate light generated by an interaction between the input signal light and the pump light supplied to said non-linear optical medium and outputting the output signal light and the phase conjugate light from a signal light output port and a phase conjugate light output port, respectively; said pump light source comprising first and second pump light sources for outputting beams of pump light having equal frequencies to each other; said signal light/pump light supply means comprising a first optical coupler having first to third ports and connected at said second port thereof to said first pump light source and at said third port thereof to a first end of said pump light source, for outputting light supplied to said first and second ports from said third port thereof and for outputting light supplied to said third port from said first port thereof, and a second optical coupler having first to third ports and connected at said first port thereof to a second end of said non-linear optical medium and at said second port thereof to said second pump light source for outputting light supplied to said first port from said third port thereof and for outputting light supplied to said second port from said first port thereof; and pump light control means for varying the light emission intensities of said first and second pump light sources of said phase conjugate light generation apparatus in accordance with high and low levels of first and second input logic data, respectively; the phase conjugate light being generated when both of the first and second input logic data have the high level.

Claim 27

An optical communications system, comprising: a master station having phase conjugate light generation means and first modulation means; a slave station having probe light generation means and first demodulation means; and an optical transmission line provided between said master station and said slave station; said probe light generation means supplying probe light to a first end of said optical transmission line; said phase conjugate light generation means generating phase conjugate light from the probe light outputted from a second end of said optical transmission line and supplying the phase conjugate light to the second end of said optical transmission line; said first modulation means modulating the phase conjugate light in accordance with first input data; said first demodulation means demodulating the first input data in accordance with the phase conjugate light outputted from the first end of said optical transmission line.

Claim 28

An optical communications system, comprising: a master station having phase conjugate light generation means and first modulation means; a slave station having probe light generation means and first demodulation means; and an optical transmission line provided between said master station and said slave station; said probe light generation means supplying probe light to a first end of said optical transmission line; said phase conjugate light generation means generating phase conjugate light from the probe light outputted from a second end of said optical transmission line and supplying the phase conjugate light to the second end of said optical transmission line; said first modulation means modulating the phase conjugate light in accordance with first input data; said first demodulation means demodulating the first input data in accordance with the phase conjugate light outputted from the first end of said optical transmission line.

Claim 29

An optical communications system according to claim 17, wherein said phase conjugate light generation means comprises: a non-linear optical medium; pump light generation means for outputting pump light; and probe light/pump light supply means for supplying the pump light supplied thereto from said pump light generation means to said non-linear optical medium together with the probe light.

Claim 30

An optical communications system according to claim 18, wherein said non-linear optical medium exhibits a tertiary non-linear optical effect, and generates the phase conjugate light by four-light wave mixture.

Claim 31

An optical communications system according to claim 18, wherein said first modulation means comprises pump light modulation means for modulating the pump light in accordance with the first input data.

Claim 32

An optical communications system according to claim 20, wherein the pump light comprises first pump light and second pump light of the same frequency and supplied in the opposite directions to each other to said non-linear optical medium.

Claim 33

An optical communications system according to claim 21, wherein said pump light modulation means modulates one of an intensity and an amplitude of at least one of the first pump light and the second pump light.

Claim 34

An optical communications system according to claim 21, wherein said pump light modulation means modulates frequencies of the first pump light and the second pump light.

Claim 35

An optical communications system according to claim 17, wherein; said slave station further comprises second modulation means for modulating the probe light in accordance with second input data; and said master station further comprises second demodulation means for demodulating the second input data in accordance with the phase conjugate light generated by said phase conjugate light generation means.

Claim 36

An optical communications system according to claim 24, wherein: said second modulation means modulates one of a frequency and a phase of the probe light; and said first modulation means modulates one of an intensity and an amplitude of the phase conjugate light.

Claim 37

An optical communications system according to claim 24, wherein: said second modulation means modulates one of an intensity and an amplitude of the probe light at a comparatively low degree of modulation; and said first modulation means modulates one of an intensity and an amplitude of the phase conjugate light at a comparatively high degree of modulation.

Claim 38

An optical communications system according to claim 17, wherein said first modulation means modulates an intensity of the phase conjugate light, and said first demodulation means (207) includes an optical receiver for converting the phase conjugate light outputted from the first end of said optical transmission line into an electric signal, said first demodulation means performing direct detection.

Claim 39

An optical communications system according to claim 17, wherein said first modulation means modulates one of an amplitude, a phase and a frequency of the phase conjugate light, and said first demodulation means (207) includes an optical receiver for receiving, at a same optical receiving face thereof, the phase conjugate light outputted from the first end of said optical transmission line together with local light and converting the received light into an electric signal, said first demodulation means performing heterodyne detection.

Claim 40

An optical communications system according to claim 28, wherein said slave station further comprises optical splitting means for splitting the probe light from said probe light generation means into first probe light and second probe light, and the first probe light is supplied to the first end of said optical transmission line while the second probe light is supplied as the local light to said optical receiver.

Claim 41

An optical communications system according to claim 29, wherein: said optical transmission line comprises a single mode fiber; said phase conjugate light generation means comprises first and second phase conjugate light generation apparatuses; and said master station further comprises a polarization beam splitter having first to third ports and connected at said first port thereof to said single mode fiber and at said second and third ports thereof to said first and second phase conjugate light generation apparatuses, respectively, for splitting light supplied to said first port into two orthogonally polarized light components and outputting the two orthogonally polarized light components from said second and third ports thereof and for outputting two orthogonally polarized light components supplied to said second and third ports from said first port thereof.

Claim 42

An optical communications system according to claim 17, wherein the probe light supplied to the first end of said optical transmission line comprises a plurality of kinds of frequency division multiplexed probe light.

Claim 43

An optical communications system according to claim 17, wherein: said slave station further comprises second modulation means for modulation the probe light in accordance with second input data; said optical communications system comprises a plural number of said master station; and each of the plurality of master stations further comprises second demodulation means for demodulating the second input data in accordance with the phase conjugate light generated by said phase conjugate light generation means.

Claim 44

An optical communications system according to claim 32, wherein said phase conjugate light generation means of each of the plurality of master stations comprises: a non-linear optical medium; pump light generation means for generating pump light; and probe light/pump light supply means for supplying the pump light supplied thereto from said pump light generation means to said non-linear optical medium together with the probe light; wherein the kinds of pump light generated from the pump light generation means have different frequencies from one another.

Claim 45

An optical communications system according to claim 17, comprising a plural number of said slave station.

Claim 46

An optical modulator, comprising: a probe light source; a pump light source; a non-linear optical medium; probe light/pump light supply means for supplying probe light from said probe light source to said non-linear optical medium together with pump light from said pump light source; and modulation means operatively connected to said pump light source for modulating a frequency of the pump light; said non-linear optical medium outputting modulated phase conjugate light.

Claim 47

An optical modulator, comprising: a probe light source; a pump light source; a non-linear optical medium; probe light/pump light supply means for supplying probe light from said probe light source to said non-linear optical medium together with pump light from said pump light source; and modulation means operatively connected to said pump light source for modulating a frequency of the pump light; said non-linear optical medium outputting modulated phase conjugate light.

Claim 48

An optical modulator, comprising: a probe light source; a pump light source; a non-linear optical medium; probe light/pump light supply means for supplying probe light from said probe light source to said non-linear optical medium together with pump light from said pump light source; and modulation means operatively connected to said pump light source for modulating a phase of the pump light; said non-linear optical medium outputting modulated phase conjugate light.

Claim 49

An optical modulator, comprising: a probe light source; a pump light source; a non-linear optical medium; probe light/pump light supply means for supplying probe light from said probe light source to said non-linear optical medium together with pump light from said pump light source; and modulation means operatively connected to said pump light source for modulating a phase of the pump light; said non-linear optical medium outputting modulated phase conjugate light.

Claim 50

An optical modulator, comprising a probe light source; a pump light source; a non-linear optical medium; probe light/pump light supply means for supplying probe light from said probe light source to said non-linear optical medium together with pump light from said pump light source; modulation means operatively connected to said pump light source for modulating the pump light in accordance with an information signal; said non-linear optical medium outputting modulated phase conjugate light; and an optical band pass filter operatively connected to said non-linear optical medium and having a pass band which includes a wavelength of the phase conjugate light.

Claim 51

An optical modulator, comprising a probe light source; a pump light source; a non-linear optical medium; probe light/pump light supply means for supplying probe light from said probe light source to said non-linear optical medium together with pump light from said pump light source; modulation means operatively connected to said pump light source for modulating the pump light in accordance with an information signal; said non-linear optical medium outputting modulated phase conjugate light; and an optical band pass filter operatively connected to said non-linear optical medium and having a pass band which includes a wavelength of the phase conjugate light.

Claim 52

An optical modulator according to claim 37, further comprising an optical amplifier operatively connected to said optical band pass filter for amplifying the phase conjugate light.

Claim 53

An optical modulator, comprising: a probe light source; a pump light source; a non-linear optical medium; probe light/pump light supply means for supplying probe light from said probe light source to said non-linear optical medium together with pump light from said pump light source; and modulation means operatively connected to said pump light source for modulating the pump light in accordance with an information signal; said non-linear optical medium outputting modulated phase conjugate light, wherein said non-linear optical medium comprises an optical fiber.

Claim 54

An optical modulator, comprising: a probe light source; a pump light source; a non-linear optical medium; probe light/pump light supply means for supplying probe light from said probe light source to said non-linear optical medium together with pump light from said pump light source; and modulation means operatively connected to said pump light source for modulating the pump light in accordance with an information signal; said non-linear optical medium outputting modulated phase conjugate light, wherein said non-linear optical medium comprises an optical fiber.

Claim 55

An optical modulator according to claim 39, wherein a wavelength of the probe light and a wavelength of the pump light are a little different from each other, and a wavelength which provides zero-dispersion of said optical fiber substantially coincides with the wavelength of the pump light.

Claim 56

An optical modulator, comprising: a probe light source; a pump light source; a non-linear optical medium; probe light/pump light supply means for supplying probe light from said probe light source to said non-linear optical medium together with pump light from said pump light source; and modulation means operatively connected to said pump light source for modulating the pump light in accordance with an information signal; said non-linear optical medium outputting modulated phase conjugate light; wherein the pump light is modulated by frequency modulation in accordance with a signal having a sufficiently lower speed than the information signal.

Claim 57

An optical modulator, comprising: a probe light source; a pump light source; a non-linear optical medium; probe light/pump light supply means for supplying probe light from said probe light source to said non-linear optical medium together with pump light from said pump light source; and modulation means operatively connected to said pump light source for modulating the pump light in accordance with an information signal; said non-linear optical medium outputting modulated phase conjugate light; wherein the pump light is modulated by frequency modulation in accordance with a signal having a sufficiently lower speed than the information signal.

Claim 58

An optical modulator, comprising: a probe light source; a pump light source; a non-linear optical medium; probe light/pump light supply means for supplying probe light from said probe light source to said non-linear optical medium together with pump light from said pump light source; modulation means operatively connected to said pump light source for modulating the pump light in accordance with an information signal; said non-linear optical medium outputting modulated phase conjugate light; polarization splitting means for splitting the probe light into first and second polarized light components having polarization planes perpendicular to each other; and polarization composition means; said non-linear optical medium receiving the first and second polarized light components of the probe light and outputting phase conjugate light corresponding to the first and second polarized light components so that the phase conjugate light is generated by said polarization composition means.

Claim 59

An optical modulator, comprising: a probe light source; a pump light source; a non-linear optical medium; probe light/pump light supply means for supplying probe light from said probe light source to said non-linear optical medium together with pump light from said pump light source; modulation means operatively connected to said pump light source for modulating the pump light in accordance with an information signal; said non-linear optical medium outputting modulated phase conjugate light; polarization splitting means for splitting the probe light into first and second polarized light components having polarization planes perpendicular to each other; and polarization composition means; said non-linear optical medium receiving the first and second polarized light components of the probe light and outputting phase conjugate light corresponding to the first and second polarized light components so that the phase conjugate light is generated by said polarization composition means.

Claim 60

An optical modulator, comprising: a probe light source; a pump light source; a non-linear optical medium; probe light/pump light supply means for supplying probe light from said probe light source to said non-linear optical medium together with pump light from said pump light source; and modulation means operatively connected to said pump light source for modulating the pump light in accordance with an information signal; said non-linear optical medium comprising a polarization holding fiber and outputting modulated phase conjugate light; the pump light being substantially linearly polarized light having a predetermined polarization plane; and said pump light source being set so that the predetermined polarization plane is inclined approximately by 45° with respect to the main axis of said polarization holding fiber.

Claim 61

An optical modulator, comprising: a probe light source; a pump light source; a non-linear optical medium; probe light/pump light supply means for supplying probe light from said probe light source to said non-linear optical medium together with pump light from said pump light source; and modulation means operatively connected to said pump light source for modulating the pump light in accordance with an information signal; said non-linear optical medium comprising a polarization holding fiber and outputting modulated phase conjugate light; the pump light being substantially linearly polarized light having a predetermined polarization plane; and said pump light source being set so that the predetermined polarization plane is inclined approximately by 45° with respect to the main axis of said polarization holding fiber.

Claim 62

An optical modulator, comprising: a probe light source; a pump light source; a non-linear optical medium; probe light/pump light supply means for supplying probe light from said probe light source to said non-linear optical medium together with pump light from said pump light source; and modulation means operatively connected to said pump light source for modulating the pump light in accordance with an information signal; said non-linear optical medium outputting modulated phase conjugate light and comprises first and second polarization holding fibers of substantially equal lengths, said first and second polarization holding fibers being connected to each other such that the main axes thereof are perpendicular to each other; the pump light being substantially linearly polarized light having a predetermined polarization plane; the pump light being supplied to said first polarization holding fiber; and said pump light source being set so that the predetermined polarization plane is inclined approximately by 45° with respect to the main axis of said first polarization holding fiber.

Claim 63

An optical modulator, comprising: a probe light source; a pump light source; a non-linear optical medium; probe light/pump light supply means for supplying probe light from said probe light source to said non-linear optical medium together with pump light from said pump light source; and modulation means operatively connected to said pump light source for modulating the pump light in accordance with an information signal; said non-linear optical medium outputting modulated phase conjugate light and comprises first and second polarization holding fibers of substantially equal lengths, said first and second polarization holding fibers being connected to each other such that the main axes thereof are perpendicular to each other; the pump light being substantially linearly polarized light having a predetermined polarization plane; the pump light being supplied to said first polarization holding fiber; and said pump light source being set so that the predetermined polarization plane is inclined approximately by 45° with respect to the main axis of said first polarization holding fiber.

Claim 64

An optical modulator according to claim 39, wherein said probe light/pump light supply means comprises: an optical coupler having first to third ports and connected at said first and second ports thereof to said probe light source and said pump light source, respectively, for outputting light supplied to said first and second ports thereof from said third port; and a polarization beam splitter having fourth to seventh ports and connected at said fourth port thereof to said third port, said polarization beam splitter outputting the modulated phase conjugate light from said fifth port thereof, said sixth and seventh ports being connected to the first end and the second end of said optical fiber, respectively, said polarization beam splitter outputting two orthogonally polarized light components of light supplied to said fourth and fifth ports from said sixth and seventh ports thereof, respectively, said polarization beam splitter outputting two orthogonally polarized light components of light supplied to said sixth and seventh ports from said fourth and fifth ports thereof, respectively; said pump light source being set so that the polarization plane of the pump light to be supplied to said fourth port is inclined approximately by 45° with respect to both of the polarization planes of the two orthogonally polarized light components.

Claim 65

An optical modulator according to claim 45, further comprising a polarization controller for controlling a polarization condition of light supplied to said optical fiber and a polarization condition of light to be outputted from said optical fiber so that they may coincide with each other.

Claim 66

An optical modulator according to claim 45, wherein said optical fiber is a polarization holding fiber.

Claim 67

An optical modulator according to claim 39, wherein said probe light/pump light supply means comprises: an optical coupler having first to fourth ports, the pump light being supplied to said first port, the probe light being supplied to said second port, said optical coupler equally distributing light supplied to said first and second ports thereof so as to be outputted from said third and fourth ports thereof, said optical coupler equally distributing light supplied to said third and fourth ports thereof so as to be outputted from said first and second ports thereof; a polarization beam splitter have fifth to eighth ports, said sixth port being connected to said fourth port, said seventh and eighth ports being connected to the first end and the second end of said optical fiber, respectively, said polarization beam splitter outputting two orthogonally polarized light components of light supplied to said fifth and sixth ports from said seventh and eighth ports thereof, said polarization beam splitter outputting two orthogonally polarized light components of light supplied to said seventh and eighth ports from said fifth and sixth ports thereof; and a half-wave plate interposed in an optical path between said third port and said fifth port; wherein the pump light and the probe light supplied to said first and second ports, respectively, have polarization conditions which coincide with each other.

Claim 68

An optical modulator according to claim 48, further comprising an optical circulator having a ninth port connected to said probe light source, a tenth port connected to said second port, and an eleventh port for outputting the modulated phase conjugate light, said optical circulator outputting light supplied to said ninth port from said tenth port thereof, said optical circulator outputting light supplied to said tenth port from said eleventh port thereof.

Claim 69

An optical modulator according to claim 39, wherein said probe light/pump light supply means comprises: an optical coupler having a first port to which the probe light is supplied, a second port to which the pump light is supplied, and a third port connected to the first end of said optical fiber, said optical coupler outputting the probe light and the pump light supplied to said first and second ports, respectively, from said third port thereof, the modulated phase conjugate light being outputted from the second end of said optical fiber.

Claim 70

An optical modulator according to claim 50, further comprising a polarization scrambler interposed in an optical path between said probe light source and said first port for disturbing the polarization condition of the probe light.

Claim 71

An optical modulator according to claim 50, further comprising a polarization scrambler interposed in an optical path between said pump light source and said second port for disturbing the polarization condition of the pump light.