High bandwidth spectral gratings programmed with linear frequency chirps

Temporally overlapped linear frequency chirps (TOLFCs), a novel method for programming a spatial-spectral grating, are used to demonstrate grating bandwidths in excess of 2 GHz. The proper operating conditions for this method are discussed along with grating efficiency measurements. A Maxwell–Bloch simulator, which incorporates arbitrary phase functions, is used to simulate this programming method and to investigate the grating dynamics of accumulated programming using TOLFCs.