Simultaneous absolute frequency control of laser transmitters in both 1.3 and 1.55 μm bands for multiwavelength communication systems

Author

Guy, Martin ; Villeneuve, Bernard ; Latrasse, Christine ; Tetu, Michel

Author_Institution

Dept. de Genie Electr., Laval Univ., Que., Canada

Volume

14

Issue

6

fYear

1996

fDate

6/1/1996 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1136

Lastpage

1143

Abstract

Absolute frequency control will be an essential part of future dense WDM systems. In this paper, we demonstrate two promising techniques that allow the absolute frequency control of an ensemble of laser transmitters operating in both the 1.3 and 1.55 μm bands. First, a Michelson interferometer is absolutely calibrated by means of a frequency-stabilized master DFB laser. This interferometer provides an ensemble of evenly-spaced absolute frequency references that covers both the 1.3 and 1.55 μm regions. Lasers are frequency-locked to transmission nulls of this interferometer with a precision of a few hundred MHz. The second technique allows full flexibility in channel frequency assignment and relies on frequency offset control of an ensemble of laser sources relative to a master reference laser. The frequency comparator is based on a surface-emitting nonlinear semiconductor multilayer waveguide. This technique provides simultaneous frequency measurement and control of lasers in both bands with a precision of a few GHz

Keywords

Michelson interferometers; calibration; frequency control; frequency measurement; laser frequency stability; laser variables measurement; optical communication equipment; optical films; optical transmitters; surface emitting lasers; waveguide lasers; wavelength division multiplexing; μm bands; 1.3 mum; 1.55 mum; Michelson interferometer; absolutely calibrated; channel frequency assignment; dense WDM systems; evenly-spaced absolute frequency references; frequency comparator; frequency offset control; frequency-locked lasers; frequency-stabilized master DFB laser; laser sources; laser transmitters; master reference laser; multiwavelength communication systems; simultaneous absolute frequency control; simultaneous frequency measurement; surface-emitting nonlinear semiconductor multilayer waveguide; transmission nulls; Frequency control; Nonhomogeneous media; Optical control; Semiconductor lasers; Semiconductor waveguides; Surface emitting lasers; Surface waves; Transmitters; Waveguide lasers; Wavelength division multiplexing;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Lightwave Technology, Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0733-8724

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/50.511615

Filename

511615