Abstract

Amplified wavelength-division-multiplexed (WDM) systems could significantly increase the transmission capacity of existing singlemode fiber systems. However, WDM systems require strict spectral control of the transmitter laser since each laser should operate at a specific wavelength to the end of the life of the system. Thus the operation and maintenance of these transmitter lasers in a nationwide WDM network could be quite cumbersome, especially because every laser operates at a different wavelength. These problems could be simplified if all the WDM transmitter lasers operated at a predetermined set of wavelengths. In this paper we report synchronized solid etalons that provide such a set of absolute references.

© 1993 Optical Society of America