SBIR Phase I: Frequency Agile Laser for Configurable Optical Networks (FALCON)

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目将满足未来智能光网络的需求。与固定波长设备相比，增强的技术性能和价格平价同时得到满足，这将使拟议的激光技术得以扩散。该项目名为用于可配置光网络的频率捷变激光器。(猎鹰)，将开发一种工作在1550纳米左右的快速可调激光器。该激光器基于腔内电光组件的创新配置，可从窄线宽(5 KHz)源快速调谐。真正的创新是特殊的设计，允许草率、被动的对准公差，从而实现低成本设备。这种低成本制造的方法也将使这项技术能够与目前的固定波长激光器竞争。预计这种激光器将产生一种自光纤耦合的高功率(50毫瓦)、可广泛调谐(40 Nm)的激光器，能够随机接入波长切换到低于100纳秒的任何点。由于对语音、数据和视频服务的需求，光网络的进步以及支持这些网络所需的激光技术仍然是主要焦点。开发更先进、更智能的光网络被普遍认为是能够以经济上可行的价格点提供这些服务的途径。朝着这个方向迈出的一大步将是快速可调激光器的商业化供应，其价格与目前的固定波长设备具有竞争力(等于或低于)。这项拟议的技术以其制造可调谐激光光源的创新方法来满足这一需求。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)Phase I project will address the needs of future intelligent optical networks. The simultaneous satisfaction of both enhanced technical performance and price parity as compared to fixed wavelength devices will allow the proposed laser technology to proliferate. This project, entitled, Frequency Agile Laser for Configurable Optical Networks. (FALCON), will develop a rapidly tunable laser operating around 1550-nm. This laser is based upon an innovative configuration of intra-cavity electro-optic components that provide rapid tunability from a narrow-linewidth (5 kHz) source. Truly innovative is the specific design to allow for sloppy, passive alignment tolerances, thereby enabling low-cost devices to be realized. This approach to low-cost manufacturing will also allow for this technology to compete with current fixed wavelength lasers. It is anticipated that this laser, will result in a self-fiber-coupled high-power (50 milliwatts), widely tunable ( 40-nm) laser, capable of random access wavelength switching to any point in the sub-100 nanosecond regime. Due to the demand for voice, data, and video services, advances in optical networks, together with the laser technologies required to support those networks, continues to be a major focus. Development of advanced, more intelligent optical networks is generally accepted as the path to being able to provide these services at economically viable price points. One major step in this direction will be the commercial availability of rapidly tunable lasers for prices that are competitive (equal to or less than) with today's fixed wavelength devices. The proposed technology offers to meet this demand, with its innovative approach towards manufacturing of tunable laser sources.