Abstract

Future multiple-channel coherent or dense wavelength-division-multiplexed lightwave networks will require that the transmitter lasers be confined to a small frequency slot compared to the channel spacing to effectively use the low-loss window of single-mode fibers. Several methods based on a combination of an absolute optical frequency reference¹ and frequency translation techniques,^2-4 have been demonstrated. These stabilization schemes involve additional equipment, such as optical spectrometers and atomic or molecular absorption cells, which are relatively bulky, add complexity, and are generally unsuitable when the transmitters are located in different places.

© 1991 Optical Society of America