Linear and Nonlinear Fiber Propagation of Partially Coherent Fields Exhibiting Temporal Correlations

Using an ultrafast photonic first-order differentiator applied on a partially coherent field, the generation of two correlated temporal waveforms is reported and their correlation properties upon linear and nonlinear propagation along the two orthogonal polarization axes of a dispersive optical fiber are studied. Temporal correlations are maintained in linear propagation whereas Kerr nonlinearity generates anticorrelated temporal intensity patterns for both partially and uncorrelated fields. Experiments are in close agreement with the theoretical analysis.