NIST Program on Relative Intensity Noise Standards for Optical Fiber Sources Near 1550 nm

Published

October 1, 2001

Author(s)

Gregory E. Obarski

Abstract

Laboratory and transfer standards are developed for the relative intensity noise (RIN) of optical fiber sources in the 1550 nm range. Herein RIN denotes the spectral density of the relative intensity noise. The RIN of the transfer standard (TRS) obeys Gaussian statistics and is determined from a combination of theory and measurement of its power spectral density using a calibrated optical spectrum analyzer (OSA). Calibration of a customer's RIN measurement system with this standard can be accomplished through a NIST measurement assurance program (MAP). A NIST RIN measurement system serves as a laboratory standard to calibrate a customer's RIN source. This method is available as a NIST calibration service, through which a customer can also maintain traceability for their own company's RIN standard. Calibrations of the NIST RIN system with both the TRS and a laser having Poisson-limited RIN give good agreement. Determining the RIN of the TRS with a second OSA having greater precision further improves the results.

Proceedings Title

Proc., 16th Intl. Conf. on Noise in Physical Systems and 1/f Fluctuations

Conference Dates

October 22-25, 2001

Conference Location

Gainesville, FL

Conference Title

16th Intl. Conf. on Noise in Physical Systems and 1/f Fluctuations

Pub Type

Conferences

Keywords

calibration service, Gaussian light, laboratory standard, measurement assurance program, optical spectrum analyzer, Poisson-limited laser, relative intensity noise, RIN measurement system, transfer standard

Citation

Obarski, G. (2001), NIST Program on Relative Intensity Noise Standards for Optical Fiber Sources Near 1550 nm, Proc., 16th Intl. Conf. on Noise in Physical Systems and 1/f Fluctuations, Gainesville, FL (Accessed October 12, 2025)