Abstract
We have recently proposed a referencing scale for multifrequency (WDM) optical communication systems with exact multiples of 100 GHz1. In such a system, the absolute frequency control of the sources is imperative since semiconductor lasers possess a nominal operating frequency which is difficult to control precisely upon fabrication and which fluctuates with injection current, junction temperature and aging. Locking the frequency of a laser source to an absorption line of an atomic or molecular gas improves the frequency stability by several orders of magnitude and sets its value precisely. Acetylene (C2H2), for example, provides lines whose absolute frequencies can be known to better than 30 MHz2, with drifts of less than 100 kHz/°C and 200 kHz/Torr3. Typical full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the lines are around 600 MHz at ambient temperatures. Once the laser is stabilized, a long term frequency stability of better than 20 kHz can be obtained. These figures meet the dense optical frequency multiplexing requirements.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
C. Gamache, M. Têtu, C. Latrasse, N. Cyr, M. A. Duguay and B. Villeneuve, “An optical frequency scale in exact multiples of 100 GHz for standardization of multifrequency communications”, IEEE Photonics Tech. Lett., Vol. 8, No. 2, pp. 290–292, February 1996
M. Têtu, C. Latrasse, M. Breton, M. Guy, C. Gamache, M. Poulin, J.F. Cliche, M. Poirier, P. Tremblay, M. A. Duguay and B. Villeneuve, “Frequency-stabilized lasers for multifrequency optical communications: work done at Université Laval”, Proc. SPIE2378, pp. 176–195, 1995
Y. Sakai, S. Sudo and T. Ikegami, “Frequency stabilization of laser diodes using 1.51–1.55 urn absorption lines of 12C2H2 and 13C2H2,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron., Vol. 28, No. 1, pp. 75–81, January 1992.
C. Latrasse, M. Breton, M. Têtu, N. Cyr, R. Roberge and B. Villeneuve, “C2HD and 13C2H2 absorption lines near 1530 nm for semiconductor-laser frequency locking”, Opt. Lett., Vol. 19, No. 22, pp. 1885–1887, 1994.
E.J. Zuiderwijk, “Methods for unsupervised arc-line identification”, Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser112, pp. 537–549, 1995
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1997 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Cliche, J.F., Têtu, M., Latrasse, C., Gamache, C., Cyr, N., Villeneuve, B. (1997). Demonstration of a Cold Start Procedure for a Laser Source Frequency-Locked to Molecular Absorption Lines. In: Lampropoulos, G.A., Lessard, R.A. (eds) Applications of Photonic Technology 2. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9250-8_14
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9250-8_14
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-9252-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-9250-8
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive