Multiwavelength locking method and apparatus using acousto-optic tunable filter

Abstract

Disclosed is a multiwavelength locking method and apparatus using an acousto-optic tunable filter in an optical communication system including optical transport networks, in which output wavelengths of light sources are monitored under the condition in which pilot signals are applied to the acousto-optic tunable filter, so as to lock the wavelengths of the light sources, thereby eliminating an wavelength instability of the light sources for an improvement in transmission characteristics. The acousto-optic tunable filter receives light beams of N different frequencies respectively outputted from N light sources, along with N pilot signals having different frequencies, and converts respective frequencies of beam components of the output beam corresponding to the N pilot signals, thereby outputting N frequency-converted output beams to be applied to a photo-detector. N electrical signals respectively corresponding to the frequencies of the pilot signals are outputted from the photo-detector, separated from one another while corresponding to the light sources, respectively, and then used to compensate for respective output wavelengths of the light sources, thereby enabling the corresponding light sources to output locked wavelengths, respectively.