Generation of multiple stabilized frequency references using a mode-coupled laser

A transmitter system for coupling a plurality of N input signals to an optical communications medium comprising:

• a mode-coupled master laser having a stabilized cavity capable of supporting a plurality of at least N modes, said modes being characterized by respective mode frequencies that differ from one another;
• means for coupling optical power at said mode frequencies to the communications medium;
• and
• means for modulating said optical power at N of said mode frequencies according to the N input signals.

A transmitter system for use with an optical communications medium comprising:

• a mode-coupled master laser having a stabilized cavity capable of supporting a plurality of modes, said modes being characterized by respective mode frequencies that differ from one another;
• and
• a plurality of slave lasers, each locked to a different one of said modes to establish a respective carrier frequency for that slave laser;
• each of said slave lasers adapted to be optically coupled to the communications medium to define a respective communication channel for that slave laser characterized by the carrier frequency for that slave laser;
• each of said slave lasers having an input terminal adapted to be coupled to a respective signal source that generates a respective signal for communication on that slave laser's respective channel.

A receiver system for use with an optical communications medium comprising:

• a mode-coupled master laser having a stabilized cavity capable of supporting a plurality of modes, said modes being characterized by respective mode frequencies that differ from one another;
• a plurality of slave lasers, each locked to a different one of said modes to establish a respective detection frequency;
• and
• a plurality of photodetectors, each having incident thereon light from a respective one of said slave lasers and optical signals from the communications medium so as to provide an electrical signal representing signals on a respective channel characterized by the detection frequency for the slave laser whose light is incident on that photodetector.

Apparatus for monitoring, at a plurality of discrete frequencies, an input communication signal, the apparatus comprising:

• a mode-coupled stabilized multimode laser capable of providing a plurality of stabilized optical frequencies over a range;
• a signal laser having an output in the range of said stabilized multimode laser;
• means for modulating said signal laser with the input communication signal;
• and
• means for performing heterodyne detection between said signal laser and said stabilized multimode laser to provide a plurality of output signals.

A spread spectrum communication system for communicating an input signal on an optical communications medium comprising:

• a first mode-coupled master laser having a stabilized cavity capable of supporting a plurality of modes, said modes being characterized by respective mode frequencies that differ from one another;
• means for coupling optical power at at least some of said mode frequencies to the communications medium;
• means for modulating said optical power according to the input signal;
• a second mode-coupled master laser having a stabilized cavity capable of supporting a plurality of modes having mode frequencies having a predetermined relationship with the mode frequencies coupled to the communications medium;
• and
• a photodetector having incident thereon (a) light from said second master laser, and (b) optical signals from the communications medium so as to provide a detectible electrical signal representing the input signal.