Patent ID: 8981273
Filing Date: 2015-03-17
Classification: G01J,H01S

Abstract:
1. A system comprising: an input optical signal source operable to generate a first optical wave and a second optical wave characterized by a first center frequency and a second center frequency, respectively, the first center frequency and the second center frequency being separated by a frequency spacing; an optical frequency mixer coupled to the input optical signal source and operable to input the first optical wave and the second optical wave to generate a plurality of third optical waves characterized by respective third center frequencies separated from each other by the frequency spacing, and wherein at least one third center frequency is different from the first center frequency and the second center frequency; a spectral filter coupled to the optical frequency mixer and operable to transmit one of the plurality of third optical waves, the transmitted third optical wave being characterized by a selected third center frequency that is different from the first center frequency and the second center frequency; an optical frequency reference coupled to the spectral filter and operable to generate an output optical signal characterized by an amplitude that is proportional to a frequency difference between a reference frequency and the selected third center frequency; a photodetector coupled to the optical frequency reference and operable to convert the output optical signal to an electrical signal; and a feedback controller coupled to the photodetector and the input optical signal source, wherein the feedback controller is operable to convert the electrical signal into a frequency-tuning signal and to apply the frequency-tuning signal to the input optical signal source to adjust the second center frequency thereby stabilizing the second center frequency.