Self-monitored light source for stable wavelength optical communications
AssigneeLucent Technologies Inc.
InventorsChristi Kay Madsen, Julian Bernard Soole
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Abstract
In accordance with the invention, a wavelength stable optical source comprises at least one adjustable wavelength optical source, a multipath Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MMZI) for receiving a signal from the adjustable source and providing a primary output and one or more secondary outputs, and a feedback arrangement responsive to the outputs for adjusting the wavelength source. Photodetectors coupled to the primary output and one or more of the secondary outputs provide feedback information for maintaining wavelength stability.
Claims7
An optical light source for providing stable wavelength light comprising:
- a wavelength adjustable source of optical signals comprising a plurality of lasers operating at a plurality of different frequencies;
- a multipath Mach-Zehnder interferometer comprising a first multimode coupler, a second multimode coupler and at least three waveguide lightpaths between said couplers, said first coupler having an input optically coupled to said adjustable light source, said waveguide light paths providing respectively different optical pathlengths, and said second coupler having a plurality of outputs;
- a plurality of photodetectors optically coupled to at least two outputs of said interferometer for measuring the optical power from said outputs;
- and
- a feedback circuit responsive to said photodetectors for adjusting the wavelength of said adjustable source to stabilize its operating wavelength.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.