Signal processing apparatus and method for transmitting and receiving coherent parallel optical signals

Transmitter apparatus, being configured for transmitting coherent parallel optical signals, comprising

• a first single soliton micro-resonator device being adapted for creating a single soliton providing a first frequency comb, wherein the first frequency comb provides a plurality of equidistant optical carriers with a frequency spacing corresponding to a free spectral range of the first single soliton micro-resonator device,
• a second single soliton micro-resonator device having a free spectral range being equal or approximated to the free spectral range of the first single soliton micro-resonator device and being adapted for creating a single soliton providing a second frequency comb, wherein the second frequency comb provides additional optical carriers,
• a modulator device being adapted for modulating the optical carriers according to data to be transmitted,
• a frequency tuning device being adapted for adjusting at least one of a central frequency of at least one of the first and second frequency combs and the free spectral ranges of at least one of the first and second single soliton micro-resonator devices, and
• a spectrum measurement unit being adapted for detecting spectral properties of the first and second frequency combs, wherein
• the frequency tuning device is adapted for at least one of matching the free spectral ranges of the first and second single soliton micro-resonator devices and adjusting the central frequencies of the first and second frequency combs using acquired data from the spectrum measurement unit, and
• the frequency tuning device comprises at least one temperature setting device being adapted for adjusting a temperature of at least one of the first and the second single soliton micro-resonator devices.

Receiver apparatus, being configured for receiving coherent parallel optical signals being generated with a first single soliton micro-resonator device for creating a single soliton providing a first frequency comb, wherein the first frequency comb provides a plurality of equidistant optical carriers with a frequency spacing corresponding to a free spectral range of the first single soliton micro-resonator device and a modulator device for modulating the optical carriers according to data to be transmitted, the receiver apparatus comprising

• a coherent receiver device with a plurality of coherent receivers, and
• a local oscillator device providing a plurality of reference optical signals, wherein
• the local oscillator device includes a second single soliton micro-resonator device having a free spectral range being equal or approximated to the free spectral range of the first single soliton micro-resonator device and being adapted for creating a single soliton providing a second frequency comb, wherein the second frequency comb provides the reference optical signals, and
• the coherent receiver device and the local oscillator device are arranged for coherently detecting the transmitted modulated optical carriers, wherein the receiver apparatus further comprises
• a frequency tuning device being adapted for adjusting at least one of a central frequency of at least one of the first and second frequency combs and the free spectral ranges of at least one of the first and second single soliton micro-resonator devices, and
• a spectrum measurement unit being adapted for detecting spectral properties of the first and second frequency combs, wherein
• the frequency tuning device is adapted for at least one of matching the free spectral ranges of the first and second single soliton micro-resonator devices and adjusting the central frequencies of the first and second frequency combs using acquired data from the spectrum measurement unit, and
• the frequency tuning device comprises at least one temperature setting device being adapted for adjusting a temperature of at least one of the first and the second single soliton micro-resonator devices.

Signal processing method, including transmitting and receiving coherent parallel optical signals, using a transmitter apparatus with a first single soliton micro-resonator device and a receiver apparatus with a coherent receiver device having a plurality of coherent receivers and a local oscillator device providing a plurality of reference optical signals, comprising the steps of

• creating a single soliton with the first single soliton micro-resonator device, the single soliton providing a first frequency comb, wherein the first frequency comb provides a plurality of equidistant optical carriers with a frequency spacing corresponding to a free spectral range of the first single soliton micro-resonator device, and
• modulating the optical carriers according to data to be transmitted, and
• coherently detecting the transmitted modulated optical carriers with the coherent receiver device and the local oscillator device, wherein
• the signal processing method further includes the steps of
• creating at least one second frequency comb providing at least one of additional optical carriers and the reference optical signals, the at least one second frequency comb being created with at least one second single soliton micro-resonator device having a free spectral range being equal or approximated to the free spectral range of the first single soliton micro-resonator device and being adapted for creating at least one single soliton providing the at least one second frequency comb,
• adjusting at least one of a central frequency of at least one of the first and second frequency combs and the free spectral ranges of at least one of the first and second single soliton micro-resonator devices, wherein
• spectral properties of the first and second frequency combs are detected and the adjusting step is conducted using the detected spectral properties, and
• the adjusting step includes adjusting a temperature of at least one of the first and the second single soliton micro-resonator devices.

Transmitting method for transmitting coherent parallel optical signals, comprising the steps of

• creating a single soliton providing a first frequency comb with a first single soliton micro-resonator device, wherein the first frequency comb provides a plurality of equidistant optical carriers with a frequency spacing corresponding to a free spectral range of the first single soliton micro-resonator device,
• creating a single soliton providing a second frequency comb with a second single soliton micro-resonator device having a free spectral range being equal or approximated to the free spectral range of the first single soliton micro-resonator device, wherein the second frequency comb provides additional optical carriers,
• modulating the optical carriers according to data to be transmitted, and
• transmitting the modulated optical carriers to a communication channel, including the further steps of
• adjusting at least one of a central frequency of at least one of the first and second frequency combs and the free spectral ranges of at least one of the first and second single soliton micro-resonator devices, wherein
• spectral properties of the first and second frequency combs are detected and the adjusting step is conducted using the detected spectral properties, and
• the adjusting step includes adjusting a temperature of at least one of the first and the second single soliton micro-resonator devices.

Receiving method for receiving coherent parallel optical signals being generated with a first single soliton micro-resonator device for creating a single soliton providing a first frequency comb, wherein the first frequency comb provides a plurality of equidistant optical carriers with a frequency spacing corresponding to a free spectral range of the first single soliton micro-resonator device and a modulator device for modulating the optical carriers according to data to be transmitted, comprising the steps of

• coherently detecting the transmitted modulated optical carriers with a coherent receiver device having a plurality of coherent receivers and with a local oscillator device, wherein
• the local oscillator device includes a second single soliton micro-resonator device having a free spectral range being equal or approximated to the free spectral range of the first single soliton micro-resonator device and being adapted for creating a single soliton providing a second frequency comb, wherein the second frequency comb provides the reference optical signals, including the further steps of
• adjusting at least one of a central frequency of at least one of the first and second frequency combs and the free spectral ranges of at least one of the first and second single soliton micro-resonator devices, wherein
• spectral properties of the first and second frequency combs are detected and the adjusting step is conducted using the detected spectral properties, and
• the adjusting step includes adjusting a temperature of at least one of the first and the second single soliton micro-resonator devices.