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

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目将解决未来智能光网络的需求。与固定波长器件相比，同时满足增强的技术性能和价格平价将使所提出的激光技术得到扩散。该项目名为“用于可配置光网络的频率敏捷激光器”。（FALCON）将开发一种工作在1550纳米左右的快速可调谐激光器。该激光器基于腔内电光组件的创新配置，可从窄线宽（5 kHz）源提供快速可调性。真正的创新是特定的设计，允许草率，被动对准公差，从而使低成本的设备得以实现。这种低成本制造方法也将使这种技术能够与当前的固定波长激光器竞争。预计该激光器将产生自光纤耦合的高功率（50毫瓦），宽可调谐（40纳米）激光器，能够在低于100纳秒的范围内随机访问波长切换到任何点。由于对语音、数据和视频业务的需求，光网络的进步以及支持这些网络所需的激光技术继续成为主要焦点。发展更先进、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。在这个方向上的一个重要步骤将是快速可调谐激光器的商业可用性，其价格与今天的固定波长设备具有竞争力（等于或低于）。提出的技术提供了满足这一需求，其创新的方法来制造可调谐激光源。

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.