Aspects are generally directed to optical signal receivers and methods. In one example, a receiver includes a pump assembly configured to produce an encoded pump signal. The receiver includes an optical resonator positioned to receive an optical signal and the encoded pump signal, the optical resonator including an optical medium to accumulate resonant optical signal energy based on the optical signal, and the optical resonator being configured to emit output optical signal energy and disturb the output optical signal energy in response to a variation in the optical signal, the optical medium being further configured to modify a waveform shape of the output optical signal energy based on the encoded pump signal. The receiver further includes a detector to detect the output optical signal energy and determine a characteristic of the variation in the optical signal based on the waveform shape of the output optical signal energy.