Tunable Laser for Characterizing Ultra Dense Wavelength Selective Devices and Integrated Optic Systems for Fiber Telecom Applications

光纤通信系统设计和开发的目标之一是实现这种传输介质的全25THz带宽能力。目前正在追求的一种方法是在掺杂光纤放大器的增益分布内以高调制率传输大量的光谱信道。因此，为了使新的器件技术被接受，它们必须在相对较大的光谱带宽(C波段：1528-1561 nm；L波段：1561-1620 nm)上使用高光谱分辨率的探测器(0.10-0.20 nm；10-25 GHz，1550 nm)进行表征。完成这项任务的一种方法是使用可调谐的激光光源来探测设备，以测量其在一定波长范围内的光谱特性。还可以改变入射光束的偏振，以检查对一段光纤中可能出现的偏振变化的敏感性。光源输出还可以用作连续波光源，然后可以用外部调制器进行调制，以检查调制器在不同波长的性能。在这一点上，可调谐激光光源是一种非常通用的工具，用于研究高性能光纤设备和系统的许多不同方面。除了将可调谐激光光源用于研究目的外，它还是一种非常有用的教育工具。它可用于实验室实验，以评估现代光纤通信系统中的设备，如光纤布拉格光栅、光纤放大器的光谱增益变化和放大器增益均衡技术。此外，它还可用于培训本科生和研究生的密集波分复用器件表征技术。本方案的目的是要求可调谐半导体激光器的光谱分辨率为0.02rim，调谐范围为1510-1580 nm。这一来源将为我们的实验室提供研究光纤通信系统中波长选择操作的设备和材料的性能的能力。它还将使我们能够显著提高实验室实验的质量和相关性，我们可以在我们的光纤课程以及本科生和研究生研究项目中提供这些实验。我们的研究和教育设施目前无法获得这种类型的来源，这是我们努力的一个重大障碍。亚利桑那大学承诺分担三分之一的激光成本，这突显了获得这种类型仪器的重要性。

One of the goals of optical fiber communication system design and development is the realization of the full 25 THz bandwidth capability of this transmission medium. One approach currently being pursued is to transmit a large number of spectral channels at high modulation rates within the gain profile of doped optical fiber amplifiers. Therefore in order for new device technologies to be acceptable they must be characterized with high spectral resolution probes (0.10-0.20 nm; 10-25 GHz at 1550 nm) over relatively large spectral bandwidths (C-Band: 1528-1561 nm; L-Band: 1561-1620 nm). One approach to accomplishing this task is to use a tunable laser source to probe the device to measure its spectral properties over a range of wavelengths. The polarization of the incident beam can also be changed to examine the sensitivity to polarization variations that may occur in a length of fiber. The source output can also serve as a continuous wave optical source that can then be modulated with an external modulator to examine the performance of a modulator at different wavelengths. In this regard a tunable laser source is an extremely versatile tool for investigating many different aspects of high performance fiber optic devices and systems.In addition to using a tunable laser source for research purposes it also is a very useful instrument for education purposes. It can be used in laboratory experiments that evaluate devices found in modern fiber optic communications systems such as fiber Bragg gratings, spectral gain variation of optical amplifiers, and amplifier gain equalization techniques. In addition it can be used to train both undergraduate and graduate students in DWDM device characterization techniques.The purpose of this proposal is a request for a tunable laser diode with a spectral resolution of 0.02 rim and a tuning range from 1510-1580 nm. This source will provide our lab with the capability to investigate the performance of devices and materials for wavelength selective operations in fiber optic communications systems. it will also allow us to significantly improve the quality and relevance of laboratory experiments that we can offer in our classes on fiber optics and undergraduate and graduate research projects. A source of this type is currently not available for our research and educational facilities and is a significant obstacle to our efforts. The importance of acquiring an instrument of this type is underscored by the commitment from the University of Arizona to cost share one-third of the cost of the laser.