Claims
- 1. An optical-spectrum flattening method characterized by comprising:
a first step of obtaining a discrete spectrum of a mode spacing Δf using an output light obtained by modulating an amplitude or phase of a continuous wave (CW) output from a single-wavelength light source using a repetition frequency Δf, or an output light output from a pulse light source or an optical pulse output circuit for outputting a pulsed light of the repetition frequency Δf; and a second step of modulating said discrete spectrum of the mode spacing Δf by frequency Ω when a band of said discrete spectrum is 2fm.
- 2. An optical-spectrum flattening method according to claim 1, characterized in that:
the repetition frequency Δf and a light of a pulse width (full width at half maximum) tO have a relationship to <<(1/Δf), the pulse width (full width at half maximum) of a light pulse is expanded.
- 3. An optical-spectrum flattening method according to claim 2, characterized in that:
the pulse width (full width at half maximum) of a light pulse is expanded using a dispersive medium.
- 4. An optical-spectrum flattening method according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that:
during said second step, a modulator is used which modulates an amplitude or phase of a temporal waveform composed of said discrete optical spectrum.
- 5. An optical-spectrum flattening method according to claim 4, characterized in that:
said modulator for modulating the amplitude or phase is driven by a signal voltage output from an oscillator at a particular frequency.
- 6. An optical-spectrum flattening method according to claim 5, characterized in that:
the signal voltage from said oscillator is a sinusoidal wave.
- 7. An optical-spectrum flattening method according to claim 5, characterized in that:
if a phase modulator is used during said second step, a frequency shift of said discrete spectrum is regulated by varying a modulation index.
- 8. An optical-spectrum flattening method according to claim 5, characterized in that:
the frequency shift of said discrete spectrum is regulated by causing a multiplier or a divider to multiply or divide an output signal from the oscillator to varying a modulated frequency thereof.
- 9. An optical-spectrum flattening method according to claim 5, characterized in that:
during said second step, level deviations among modes are regulated by causing the phase modulator to shift a phase of a modulating signal for driving the modulator.
- 10. An optical-spectrum flattening method according to claim 4, characterized in that:
a combination of a modulator A for modulating the amplitude or phase of said continuous wave (CW) output from said single-wavelength light source and a modulator B for modulating an amplitude or phase of a modulated wave from the modulator A is used in all cases.
- 11. An optical-spectrum flattening apparatus characterized by comprising:
first means for obtaining a discrete spectrum of a mode spacing Δf using an output light obtained by modulating an amplitude or phase of a continuous wave (CW) output from a single-wavelength light source using a repetition frequency Δf, or an output light output from a pulse light source or an optical pulse output circuit for outputting a pulsed light of the repetition frequency Δf; and second means for modulating said discrete spectrum of the mode spacing Δf with a frequency Ω, while Ω<2fm, when a band of said discrete spectrum is 2fm.
- 12. An optical-spectrum flattening apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that:
the repetition frequency Af and a light of a pulse width (full width at half maximum) to have a relationship t0 <<(1/Δf), the pulse width (full width at half maximum) of a light pulse is expanded.
- 13. A multi-wavelength generating apparatus for modifying an incident light of a single central wavelength using a signal voltage of a predetermined period to thereby generate a multi-wavelength light of plural central wavelengths, the apparatus comprising:
a modulating section having a plurality of optical paths coupled together in series and including one to which said incident light is input, and one or more optical modulating means arranged at predetermined locations in said plurality of optical paths; and voltage applying means for independently regulating said signal voltage and applying the voltage to input ports of said optical modulating means of said modulating section.
- 14. A multi-wavelength generating apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that:
an optical amplifier are provided in the optical path from which at least the multi-wavelength signal is output.
- 15. A multi-wavelength generating apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that:
at least one of said optical modulating means is an amplitude modulator.
- 16. A multi-wavelength generating apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that:
said modulating section comprises optical modulating means that are separate from said at least one amplitude modulator of said optical modulating means, at least one of the separate optical modulating means is a phase modulator or a phase modulator which concurrently performs phase modulation and amplitude phase modulation, and the remaining means are all amplitude modulators or phase modulators.
- 17. A multi-wavelength generating apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that:
said at least one amplitude modulator also operates as a phase modulator.
- 18. A multi-wavelength generating apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that:
said modulating section further comprises an amplitude modulator or a phase modulator.
- 19. A multi-wavelength generating apparatus according to claim 16 or 18 characterized in that:
said modulating section linearly modulates the phase of the incident light of the single wavelength relative to a signal voltage waveform applied to said input ports of said optical modulating means, said predetermined period is composed of an increase period corresponding to a half continuous period of said signal voltage and in which the signal voltage increases monotonously and a decrease period corresponding to the remaining half continuous period and in which the signal voltage decreases monotonously in a manner such that the monotonous increase and decrease are symmetrical, and said amplitude modulator gates said signal voltage waveform individually during said increase period and during said decrease period.
- 20. A multi-wavelength generating apparatus according to claim 16 or 18, characterized in that:
said modulating section linearly modulates the phase of the incident light of the single wavelength relative to a signal voltage waveform applied to said input port of said optical modulating means, said predetermined period is composed of an increase period corresponding to a half continuous period of said signal voltage and in which the signal voltage increases monotonously and a decrease period corresponding to the remaining half continuous period and in which the signal voltage decreases monotonously in a manner such that the monotonous increase and decrease are symmetrical, and said amplitude modulator gates said signal voltage waveform with predetermined timings that span across said increase period and said decrease period.
- 21. A multi-wavelength generating apparatus according to any of claims 13 to 18, characterized in that:
said plurality of optical paths inside said modulator further have a plurality of optical paths coupled together in parallel, said optical modulating means are arranged in at least one of said plurality of parallel optical paths, and said plurality of optical paths cooperate in performing an amplitude modulating operation.
- 22. A multi-wavelength generating apparatus according to claim 21, characterized in that:
said optical modulating means are each a Mach-Zehnder intensity modulator which is configured such that said plurality of parallel paths branch one of the optical paths in said modulating section into two portions and then combine them together, the optical modulating means being arranged in at least one of the branched paths, said branched paths cooperating with each other in performing an amplitude modulating operation.
- 23. A multi-wavelength generating apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that:
said optical modulating means comprise one Mach-Zehnder intensity modulator.
- 24. A multi-wavelength generating apparatus according to any of claims 13 to 18, characterized in that:
said optical modulating means are EL (Electro-Absorption) intensity modulators.
- 25. A multi-wavelength generating apparatus according to any of claims 13 to 18, characterized by further comprising bias means for applying a bias to said modulating means while independently varying a power thereof.
- 26. A multi-wavelength generating apparatus according to any claims 13 to 18, characterized in that:
said modulating section comprises two optical modulating means including an amplitude modulator and a phase modulator.
- 27. A multi-wavelength generating apparatus according to any of claims 13 to 18, characterized by further comprising means for multiplying said signal voltage of the predetermined period, and in that:
at least one of said plurality of voltage applying means regulates said multiplied signal voltage and the regulated voltage is then applied to said modulating section.
- 28. A multi-wavelength generating apparatus according to any of claims 13 to 18, characterized by further comprising signal generating means for generating said signal voltage of the predetermined period as a sinusoidal wave.
- 29. A multi-wavelength generating apparatus according to any of claims 13 and 14, characterized in that:
said optical modulating means are all optical phase modulators, said sinusoidal signal voltages are each regulated so that a sum thereof is substantially 1.0π or 1.4π in terms of a phase modulation index.
- 30. A multi-wavelength generating apparatus according to any of claims 13 to 18, characterized by further comprising signal generating means for generating said signal voltage of the predetermined period as a predetermined temporal waveform signal.
- 31. A multi-wavelength generating apparatus according to any of claims 13 to 18, characterized in that:
phase adjusting means for adjusting temporal positions of said independently regulated signal voltages is provided in one of said plurality of voltage applying means.
- 32. A multi-wavelength generating apparatus according to claim 25, characterized by comprising:
first branching means arranged at an input position of said modulating means, for branching said incident light; second branching means for inputting said branched incident light falling thereon, to said modulating means, and outputting an output light from said modulating means to a following component; monitor means for monitoring said branched incident light which has entered said first branching means via said modulating means; and means for controlling a bias applied to said modulating means entered by said branched incident light, on the basis of a result of said monitoring.
- 33. A multi-wavelength generating apparatus according to claim 25, characterized by further comprising:
branching means arranged at an output position of said modulating means, for branching an output light from said modulating means; means for monitoring said branched output light; and means for controlling a bias to be applied to said modulating means having output said output light, on the basis of a result of said monitoring.
- 34. A multi-wavelength generating apparatus according to any of claims 25, characterized by further comprising:
a first branching means located at an input of said modulating means for branching said input light into a signal light and a monitoring light, a second branching means inputted said signal light through said modulating means thereto for branching output light through said modulating means into the signal light and another monitoring light, means for photo-electrically converting a power level of said monitoring light into a first electrical signal, means for photo-electrically converting a power level of said another monitoring light into a second electrical signal, and means for supplying a bias voltage based on said first and second electrical signal to said modulating means so as to constantly maintain the ratio of said signal light at said input and output of said modulating means.
- 35. A multi-wavelength generating apparatus according to any of claims 13 to 18, characterized by further comprising multiplexing means for multiplexing a plurality of incident lights of different single central wavelengths and allowing said multiplexed light to fall on a first optical modulating means of said modulating section.
- 36. A multi-wavelength generating apparatus according to claim 35, characterized in that:
said plurality of incident lights have frequencies thereof arranged at predetermined intervals, said multiplexing means has first multiplexing means for allowing every other of said plural incident lights on a frequency axis to be entered for multiplexing, and second multiplexing means for allowing the remaining every other of said plural incident lights to be entered for multiplexing, said modulating section has a first modulating section for modulating said multiplexed light from said first multiplexing means and a second modulating section for modulating said multiplexed light from said second multiplexing means, and further comprises: first multiplexing and demultiplexing means for demultiplexing an output light from said first modulating section into said different signal central wavelengths and multiplexing these wavelengths, second multiplexing and demultiplexing means for demultiplexing an output light from said second modulating section into said different signal central wavelengths and multiplexing these wavelengths, and means for multiplexing a multiplexed light provided by said first multiplexing and demultiplexing means and having said every other component and a multiplexed light provided by said second multiplexing and demultiplexing means and having said remaining every other component.
- 37. A multi-wavelength generating apparatus according to claim 36, characterized in that:
said first modulating section generates side mode lights at an output thereof in a manner such that the optical powers of (2N+m) (N is a natural number, and m is an integer) wavelengths fall within a predetermined range, and said second modulating section generates side mode lights at an output thereof in a manner such that the optical powers of (2N−m) (N is a natural number, and m is an integer) wavelengths fall within a predetermined range.
- 38. A coherent multi-wavelength signal generating apparatus characterized by comprising:
a multi-wavelength light source for generating a multi-wavelength light having a plurality of wavelength components; a demultiplexer for separating said multi-wavelength light into different wavelengths; an optical modulator for modulating coherent lights of the different wavelengths obtained by said demultiplexer, using a transmitted signal; a multiplexer for multiplexing modulated signal lights modulated by said optical modulator and outputting a coherent multi-wavelength signal; and control means for controlling a shape of a spectrum of the multi-wavelength light output from said multi-wavelength light source so that a relative intensity noise RIN(i) from an i-th wavelength component obtained by spectrum slicing executed by said multiplexer meets the following equations: 4RIN(i)=RIN+10 Log10(Pi/Σ Pi)RIN=-γ-10 log10BWSE+3γ=10 log10(PLAS/PSE)when a relative intensity noise for said multi-wavelength light source is defined as RIN[dB/Hz], a ratio of a probability of stimulated emission to that of spontaneous emission is defined as γ[dB], a stimulated emission light intensity is defined as PLAS[dBm], a spontaneous emission light intensity is defined as PSE[dBm], a spontaneous emission light band is defined as BWSE[Hz], and a light intensity of the i-th wavelength component is defined as Pi.
- 39. A coherent multi-wavelength signal generating apparatus characterized by comprising:
a multi-wavelength light source for generating a multi-wavelength light having a plurality of wavelength components; a demultiplexer for separating said multi-wavelength light into different wavelengths; an optical modulator for modulating coherent lights of the different wavelengths obtained by said demultiplexer, using a transmitted signal; a multiplexer for multiplexing modulated signal lights modulated by said optical modulator and outputting a coherent multi-wavelength signal; an optical amplifier for amplifying said multi-wavelength light output from said multi-wavelength light source and inputting the amplified multi-wavelength light to said multiplexer; and control means for controlling a shape of a spectrum of the multi-wavelength light output from said multi-wavelength light source so that a relative intensity noise RIN(i) from an i-th wavelength component obtained by spectrum slicing executed by said multiplexer meets the following equations: 5RIN(i)=RIN+10 Log10(Pi/Σ Pi)RIN=-γ-10 log10BWSE+3γ=10 log10[gPLAS/{gPSE(BWSE/BWAMP)+h ν(g-1)nsp∘m∘BWAMP}]when a gain of said optical amplifier is defined as g, an optical amplifying band is defined as BWAMP[Hz], the total number of lateral modes is defined as m, a population inversion parameter is defined as nsp and a central optical frequency of said multi-wavelength light source is defined as υ[Hz].
- 40. A coherent multi-wavelength signal generating apparatus according to claim 38 or 39, characterized in that:
when a band of a receiver is defined as Be[Hz], a demultiplexing band of a demultiplexer located before the receiver is defined as B0[Hz], a signal mark rate is defined as M, a signal light intensity of an output from an i-th modulator is defined as P(i)[dBm], an intensity of a stimulated emission light in the output from this modulator is defined as Pc(i)[dBm], an intensity of a spontaneous emission light in the output from this modulator is defined as Ps(i)[dBm], an equivalent current flowing through said receiver is defined as Ieq[A], shot noise in signal components is defined as Ns, beat noise between the signal components and a spontaneous emission light is defined as Ns-sp, beat noise between spontaneous emission lights is defined as Nsp-sp, and thermal noise from said receiver is defined as Nth, said control means controls the shape of the spectrum of the multi-wavelength light output from said multi-wavelength light source so that a signal-to-noise ratio SNR for outputs from said modulators meets the following equations: SNR=S/(Ns+Ns-sp+Nsp-sp+Nth) Ps(i)=RIN(i)+10log10Be+Pc(i)+10log10 M S=((eη/hν)Pc(i))2 Ns=2e((eη/hν)P(i))Be Ns-sp=4(eη/hν)2Pc(i)Ps(i)Be/Bo Nth=Ieq2Be where P(i), Pc(i), and Ps(i) in S, Ns, and Ns-sp are expressed in W using a linear notation.
- 41. A coherent multi-wavelength signal generating apparatus according to claim 38 or 39, characterized in that:
when a band of a receiver is defined as Be[Hz], a demultiplexing band of a demultiplexer located before the receiver is defined as B0[Hz], a signal mark rate is defined as M, a signal light intensity of an output from an i-th modulator is defined as P(i)[dBm], a intensity of a stimulated emission light in the output from this modulator is defined as Pc(i)[dBm], an intensity of a spontaneous emission light in the output from this modulator is defined as Ps(i)[dBm], an equivalent current flowing through the receiver is defined as Ieq[A], a rate of leakage from a j-th port to an i-th port of said multiplexer is defined as XT(i), a light intensity of a cross talk signal from said multiplexer is defined as Px(i)[dBm], shot noise in signal components is defined as Ns, beat noise between the signal components and the spontaneous emission light is defined as Ns-sp, beat noise between the signal components and the cross talk signal light is defined as Ns-x, beat noise between spontaneous emission lights is defined as Nsp-sp, beat noise between the cross talk signal light and the spontaneous emission light is defined as Nx-sp, and thermal noise from said receiver is defined as Nth; said control means controls the shape of the spectrum of the multi-wavelength light output from said multi-wavelength light source so that a signal-to-noise ratio SNR for outputs from said modulators meets the following equations: SNR=S/(NS+Ns-sp+Nx-sp+Nsp-sp+Ns-x+Nth) Ps(i)=RIN(i)+10log10Be+Pc(i)10log10M Px(i)=ΣP(j)•XT(j) S=((eη/hν)Pc(i))2 Ns=2e((eη/hν)P(i))Be Ns-sp=4(eη/hν)2Pc(i)Ps(i)Be/Bo Nx-sp=4(eη/hν)2Px(i)Ps(i)Be/Bo Ns-x=(eη/hν)2Pc(i)Px(i) Nth=Ieq2Be where P(i), Pc(i), and Ps(i) in S, Ns, and Ns-sp are expressed in W using a linear notation.
- 42. A coherent multi-wavelength signal generating apparatus according to claim 38 or 39, characterized in that:
said multi-wavelength light source comprises a light source for generating a light having a single central wavelength and an optical modulator for modulating an intensity or phase of an output light from the light source using a predetermined period signal, to generate a multi-wavelength light, and said control means regulates at least one of a voltage of said period signal and a bias voltage at said optical modulator so as to control a shape of an optical spectrum of the multi-wavelength light generated by said multi-wavelength light source.
- 43. A coherent multi-wavelength signal generating apparatus according to claim 42, characterized in that:
said control means controls phases of said period signals to control the shape of the spectrum of the multi-wavelength light generated by said multi-wavelength light source.
- 44. A coherent multi-wavelength signal generating apparatus according to claim 42, characterized in that:
said control means controls multiplier factors for said period signals to control the shape of the spectrum of the multi-wavelength light generated by said multi- wavelength light source.
- 45. A multi-wavelength light for generating a plurality of optical carriers of different wavelengths from a plurality of input lights of different central wavelengths, characterized by comprising:
first multiplexing means for multiplexing those of said plurality of input lights which have an odd-number-th wavelength; second multiplexing means for multiplexing those of said plurality of input lights which have an even-number-th wavelength; first modulating means for modulating an output light from said first multiplexing means; second modulating means for modulating an output light from said second multiplexing means; polarization multiplexing means for combining outputs from said first and second modulating means with orthogonal polarization; and separating means for separating a synthesized multi-wavelength output from said polarization multiplexing means, into said optical carriers of different wavelengths.
- 46. A multi-wavelength light according to claim 45, characterized in that:
said first modulating section generates side mode lights at an output thereof in a manner such that the optical powers of (2N+m) (N is a natural number, and m is an integer) wavelengths fall within a predetermined range, and said second modulating section generates side mode lights at an output thereof in a manner such that the optical powers of (2N−m) (N is a natural number, and m is an integer) wavelengths fall within a predetermined range.
- 47. A multi-wavelength light for generating a plurality of optical carriers of different wavelengths from a plurality of input lights of different central wavelengths, characterized by comprising:
first multiplexing means for multiplexing those of said plurality of input lights which have an odd-number-th wavelength; second multiplexing means for multiplexing those of said plurality of input lights which have an even-number-th wavelength; polarization multiplexing means for combining a multiplexed output from said first multiplexing means and a multiplexed output from said second multiplexing means so that those outputs are combined with orthogonal polarization; modulating means for modulating an output light from said polarization multiplexing means; and separating means for separating a modulated multi-wavelength output from said modulating means, into said optical carriers of different wavelengths.
- 48. A multi-wavelength light according to claim 45 or 47, characterized in that:
said first and second modulating means/said modulating means executes such modulations that side modes are output so that the optical powers of output wavelengths at outputs of said polarization multiplexing means/said modulating means are substantially equal.
- 49. A multi-wavelength light according to claim 48, characterized in that:
said modulating means outputs side modes so that those of the side modes of an output light corresponding to said plurality of adjacent input lights which are each located between each of adjacent input optical wavelengths and a substantially intermediate wavelength between said input optical wavelengths have a substantially fixed optical power, and side modes of the same wavelength, that is, said substantially intermediate wavelength, have substantially half of said fixed optical power.
Priority Claims (4)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
2000-207475 |
Jul 2000 |
JP |
|
2000-207494 |
Jul 2000 |
JP |
|
2000-218424 |
Jul 2000 |
JP |
|
2000-266125 |
Sep 2000 |
JP |
|
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2000-207475 and 2000-207494 both filed Jul., 7, 2000, 2000-218424 filed Jul. 19, 2000 and 2000-266125 filed Sep. 1, 2000, the content of which is incorporated hereinto by reference.
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a collective multi-wavelength generating technique for use in the field of optical communication technologies, and in particular, to elimination of power level deviations among the modes of a discrete optical spectrum, collective generation of a multi-wavelength light with a plurality of central wavelengths from a light with a single central wavelength, controlling an optical spectrum shape, while slicing a spectrum of coherent multi-wavelength output from a multi-wavelength light source and modulating the coherent multi-wavelength from the multi-wavelength light source with a plurality of optical modulators, output from the multi-wavelength light source so as to cause noise characteristic at inputs and outputs of the optical modulators to satisfy a design value, and collective generation of a plurality of optical carriers of different wavelengths from a plurality of input lights.
[0004] 2. Background of the Invention
[0005]FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a conventional WDM (Wavelength Division Multiplexing) transmission system. In FIG. 1, an optical transmitter 50 is composed of semiconductor lasers (for example, distribution feedback lasers: DFB-LD) 51-1 to 51-n having different wavelengths defined in a transmission specification (for example, the ITU-T G.692 recommendation), optical modulators 52-1 to 52-n for modulating optical outputs from the semiconductor lasers by means of transmitted signals, a multiplexer 53 for multiplexing modulated signal lights to output a WDM signal light, and an optical amplifier 55. An optical receiver 70 connected to the optical transmitter 50 via a transmission path optical fiber 60 is composed of an optical amplifier 71 for amplifying the transmitted WDM signal light, a demultiplexer 72 for demultiplexing the WDM signal light into signal lights of different wavelengths, and receivers 73-1 to 73-n for receiving the signal lights of the different wavelengths.
[0006] The semiconductor lasers require a wavelength stabilizing circuit to maintain the wavelength accuracy defined in the transmission specification because they are characterized by having their oscillation wavelengths shifted due to deviations in temperature and injected current and varied with temporal deviations. Since the wavelength stabilization must be carried out for each semiconductor laser, the area of the apparatus occupied by the wavelength stabilizing circuit increases consistently with the number of wavelength multiplexing operations required and with the wavelength multiplexing density. Accordingly, the costs of a light source used must be reduced in order to realize dense WDM transmissions involving a large number of wavelengths.
[0007] Such a configuration with a plurality of semiconductor lasers employs a method of generating a multi-wavelength light composed of a plurality of wavelengths, by using a demultiplexer with a plurality of output ports to filter (spectrum slicing) a continuous or discrete optical spectrum of a wide band output from a single optical element or circuit. Light sources for generating such a continuous optical spectrum of a wide band include optical amplifiers for outputting an amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) light. Light sources for generating discrete optical spectra include pulsed light sources for outputting a recurrent short optical pulse, and optical circuits for generating a sideband composed of discrete modes by modulating (intensity or phase modulation) a CW (continuous wave) light output from a semiconductor laser.
[0008] A light obtained by slicing a spectrum of the ASE light, however, is incoherent and thus unsuitable for dense WDM transmissions involving a large number of wavelengths. On the other hand, a repetition short optical pulse or a discrete spectrum obtained by modulating a continuum has longitudinal modes discretely distributed on a frequency axis at the same intervals as a repetition frequency; these longitudinal modes are very coherent. Thus, this optical circuit can be replaced for the conventional system and is suited for the wavelength-dividing multiplexing method. In general, however, the above described multi-wavelength light obtained by slicing an optical spectrum of a wide band has large power level deviations among channels, thus requiring such power adjustments that the wavelength channels have an equal power.
[0009] Another method comprises eliminating power level deviations by using an optical filter with a transmission characteristic reverse to that of an optical spectrum of a multi-wavelength light in order to restrain the power level deviations. For the recurrent short optical pulse, a method is used which comprises generating a flattened wide-band optical spectrum of a wide band by positively using a non-linear optical fiber, as in a process of generating a supercontinuum by allowing a light to pass through the non-linear optical fiber.
[0010] While flattening involved in such supercontinuum generation, the input power of a given seed pulse, the dispersion profile of the non-linear fiber, and the fiber length ought to be designed so that an output optical spectrum of the seed pulse is flattened and has a wide band after being output from the non-linear fiber. Such design and production, however, is in effect difficult. Further, since the shape of the optical spectrum is uniquely determined by its design parameters, it is impossible to dynamically control power level deviations among the longitudinal modes. Moreover, the process of flattening an optical spectrum using the optical filter with the reverse transmission characteristic also has problems in design difficulty and uniquely decided output spectrum as in the above described supercontinuum generation.
[0011] It is a first object of the present invention to provide an optical-spectrum flattening method and apparatus which has a simple and inexpensive configuration and which enables the control of power level deviations among the modes of a discrete optical spectrum.
[0012] It is a second object of the present invention to provide a collective multi-wavelength generating apparatus which has a simple and inexpensive configuration and which makes it possible to generate, without the need to design a complicated optical circuit, a WDM signal with a flattened optical spectrum by modulating a light with a single central frequency by means of an electric signal of a particular pulse repetition frequency.
[0013] It is a third object of the present invention to provide a coherent multi-wavelength signal generating apparatus, in a configuration controllable shape of an optical spectrum of a multi-wavelength light, which controls the shape of the optical spectrum of the multi-wavelength light such that a predetermined RIN (Relative Intensity Noise) or SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio) value required from parameters of transmission system, the type and distance of optical fibers, the number of repeaters is obtained, by using the above described multi-wavelength generating apparatus to generate the multi-wavelength light.
[0014] It is a fourth object of the present invention to provide a multi-wavelength light source having a simple and inexpensive configuration that does not require a complicated optical circuit to be designed, the light source being realized by taking a plurality of lights into the above described multi-wavelength generating apparatus and making it possible to generate a WDM-signal with a flattened optical spectrum without any interfering noise.
[0015] A method according to the present invention comprises a first process of obtaining a discrete spectrum of a mode spacing Δf using an output light obtained by modulating the amplitude or phase of a CW output from a single-wavelength light source or an output light from a pulsed light source or an optical-pulse output circuit for outputting a pulsed light of a repetition frequency Δf, and a second process of modulating the discrete spectrum of the mode spacing Δf at a frequency Ω<2fm when the discrete spectrum has a band 2fm, thereby making it possible to dynamically control power level deviations among the longitudinal modes of the discrete spectrum.
[0016] The above and other objects, effects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09900613 |
Jul 2001 |
US |
Child |
10655675 |
Sep 2003 |
US |