A system and method for processing an input signal includes a non-linear material component for receiving the signal. The non-linear material component is selected to mix the input signal with an optical pump wave to output an optical signal. The system also includes a parametric amplifier coupled to the non-linear material to obtain the optical signal and to amplify the optical signal to generate an amplified signal and an amplified idler which is a conjugate image of the amplified signal. The system also includes a frequency converter, to obtain the amplified signal and the amplified idler from the parametric amplifier and to convert the amplified signal and the amplified idler into a first output and a second output. The system also includes a first spectral sampling and processing apparatus to obtain and process the first output.