Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Wavelength references for 1300-nm wavelength division multiplexing

Published

Author(s)

Tasshi Dennis, E. A. Curtis, C. W. Oates, Leo W. Hollberg, Sarah L. Gilbert

Abstract

We have conducted a study of potential wavelength calibration references for use as both moderate-accuracy transfer standards and high-accuracy National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) internal references in the 1280-1320 nm wavelength-division-multiplexing region. We found that most atomic and molecular absorption lines in this region are not ideal for use as wavelength references owing to factors such as weak absorption, complex spectra, or special requirements (for example, frequency-doubling or excitation with an additional light or discharge source). We have demonstrated one of the simpler schemes consisting of a tunable diode laser stabilized to a Doppler-broadened methane absorption line. By conducting a beat-note comparison of this reference to a calcium-based optical frequency standard, we measured the methane line center with an expanded uncertainty of (2τ) 12.3 MHz. This methane-stabilized laser now serves as a NIST internal reference.
Citation
Journal of Lightwave Technology
Volume
20
Issue
5

Keywords

standard reference materials, wavelength division multiplexing, wavelength references, WDM, atomic and molecular spectra, diode laser spectroscopy, methane spectroscopy, optical communications

Citation

Dennis, T. , Curtis, E. , Oates, C. , Hollberg, L. and Gilbert, S. (2002), Wavelength references for 1300-nm wavelength division multiplexing, Journal of Lightwave Technology, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=30133 (Accessed December 12, 2024)

Issues

If you have any questions about this publication or are having problems accessing it, please contact reflib@nist.gov.

Created May 1, 2002, Updated February 19, 2017