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Optical Fiber Communication Conference

Proposal for a multiwavelength coherent communication system using laser sources frequency-locked to atomic references

M. Têtu, Bernard Villeneuve, Normand Cyr, Sylvain Thériault, Marc Breton

Published Jan 1, 1989• 1 citation

Abstract

In recent years, much work has been done on the frequency stabilization of laser diodes through the electrical feedback loop, using for a frequency discriminator an optical resonator such as a fiber loop, a Fabry-Perot, or an atomic or molecular phenomenon. While allowing a reduction of frequency fluctuations, the lattar approach also gives the possibility of fixing precisely the absolute value of the laser frequency (wavelength) according to the quantum mechanics that govern the optical transition. Thus, if many resonances are observable in a close optical frequency domain, many sources can be set to precise distinguishable frequencies and become part of a muitiwavelength coherent communication system where the channel selectivity is done at the intermediate frequency level.1

DOI: 10.1364/ofc.1989.wq26

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In recent years, much work has been done on the frequency stabilization of laser diodes through the electrical feedback loop, using for a frequency discriminator an optical resonator such as a fiber loop, a Fabry-Perot, or an atomic or molecular phenomenon. While allowing a reduction of frequency fluctuations, the lattar approach also gives the possibility of fixing precisely the absolute value of the laser frequency (wavelength) according to the quantum mechanics that govern the optical transition. Thus, if many resonances are observable in a close optical frequency domain, many sources can be set to precise distinguishable frequencies and become part of a muitiwavelength coherent communication system where the channel selectivity is done at the intermediate frequency level.1

In atomic physics experiments, a frequency-stabilized or ‘locked’ laser source is commonly required. Many established techniques are available for locking close to an atomic resonance. However, in many instances, such as atomic magnetometer and magic wavelength optical lattices in ultra-cold atoms, it is desirable to lock the frequency of the laser far away from the resonance. This review presents several far off-resonance laser frequency stabilization methods, by which the frequency of the probe beam can be locked on the detuning as far as several tens of gigahertz (GHz) away from atomic resonance line, and discusses existing challenges and possible future directions in this field.

This is a progress report on the realization of a compact and transportable frequency standard at 1556 nm based on a two-photon transition in rubidium at 778 nm. These hyperfine transitions present great metrological interest. They have a narrow theoretical linewidth of 150 kHz when observed with a 1556 nm laser, and their absolute frequency is known with an uncertainty of 5.2 X 10-12. In this experiment, we use a high power 1556 nm DFB laser and reduce its linewidth to the 10 kHz level using optical feedback from a confocal cavity. We generate its second harmonic in a periodically poled LiNbO3 crystal and use this signal to injection-lock a Fabry-Perot laser emitting 42 mW at 778 nm. The slave laser is used to observe the Doppler-free two- photon transitions: two counter-propagating beams excite rubidium atoms which emit a blue fluorescence on resonance. This 420 nm light is detected on the side of the Rb cell with a photomultiplier. Such an optical frequency standard at 1556 nm, standing in the multiwavelength telecommunications systems window, becomes an attractive source for absolute frequency calibration of WDM components, optical spectrum analyzers and wavemeters.

Narrow-linewidth lasers with absolute frequency anchoring are essential for precision metrology, coherent sensing, and emerging quantum technologies beyond laboratory environments. Optical cavities and interferometers provide exceptional short-term spectral purity but lack intrinsic absolute frequency references. Atomic transitions, in contrast, provide stable frequency anchors but offer limited discrimination sensitivity. Recent hybrid approaches have demonstrated the combination of compact optical resonators with atomic references, yet achieving the Hz-level regime remains challenging. Here, we present a hybrid architecture that enables simultaneous realization of Hz-level linewidth and atomic-referenced frequency stability. An external-cavity diode laser is first stabilized to a fiber interferometer to achieve Hz-level spectral purity, while the interferometer is subsequently anchored to an 87Rb D2 transition via modulation transfer spectroscopy to suppress long-term drift and define the laser frequency relative to the atomic transition. This dual-stabilization scheme realizes a compact atomic-referenced laser with a 3.4-Hz linewidth (1-rad integrated-phase method), a minimum fractional frequency stability of 3.4x10-14 at 0.56 s, and 9x10-13 at 100 s. This architecture establishes a practical and scalable route toward compact and field-deployable atomic-referenced narrow-linewidth lasers for precision metrology and quantum technologies.