Abstract: Described herein is a wavelength reference device comprising a housing defining an internal environment having a known temperature. A broadband optical source is disposed within the housing and configured to emit an optical signal along an optical path. The optical signal has optical power within a wavelength band of interest. An optical etalon is also disposed within the housing and positioned in the optical path to filter the optical signal to define a filtered optical signal that includes one or more reference spectral features having a known wavelength at the known temperature. The device also includes an optical output for outputting the filtered optical signal.

Abstract: A wavelength reference device can be used to self-calibrate an optical channel monitor. The device includes a broadband source, a thermal source, and an optical filter, which can include one or more filters. A housing can house each of these components or can house at least the broadband source and thermal source. The broadband source emits an optical signal along an optical path. The thermal source in thermal communication with the broadband source can adjust the operating temperature of the broadband source within a temperature range. The temperature range is configured to shift optical power of the broadband source with respect to a multi-band wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) range such that the optical power meets a minimum power level towards lower and higher frequencies of the range. The optical filter(s) positioned in the optical path can filter the optical signal to create a spectral shape for use in wavelength referencing.

Abstract: Described herein is a wavelength reference device comprising a housing defining an internal environment having a known temperature. A broadband optical source is disposed within the housing and configured to emit an optical signal along an optical path. The optical signal has optical power within a wavelength band of interest. An optical etalon is also disposed within the housing and positioned in the optical path to filter the optical signal to define a filtered optical signal that includes one or more reference spectral features having a known wavelength at the known temperature. The device also includes an optical output for outputting the filtered optical signal.

Abstract: A wavelength reference device can be used to self-calibrate an optical channel monitor. The device includes a broadband source, a thermal source, and an optical filter, which can include one or more filters. A housing can house each of these components or can house at least the broadband source and thermal source. The broadband source emits an optical signal along an optical path. The thermal source in thermal communication with the broadband source can adjust the operating temperature of the broadband source within a temperature range. The temperature range is configured to shift optical power of the broadband source with respect to a multi-band wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) range such that the optical power meets a minimum power level towards lower and higher frequencies of the range. The optical filter(s) positioned in the optical path can filter the optical signal to create a spectral shape for use in wavelength referencing.

Abstract: A wavelength reference device can be used to self-calibrate an optical channel monitor. The device includes a broadband source, a thermal source, and an optical filter, which can include one or more filters. A housing can house each of these components or can house at least the broadband source and thermal source. The broadband source emits an optical signal along an optical path. The thermal source in thermal communication with the broadband source can adjust the operating temperature of the broadband source within a temperature range. The temperature range is configured to shift optical power of the broadband source with respect to a multi-band wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) range such that the optical power meets a minimum power level towards lower and higher frequencies of the range. The optical filter(s) positioned in the optical path can filter the optical signal to create a spectral shape for use in wavelength referencing.

Abstract: A wavelength reference device includes a broadband optical source, a repeating filter, and a wavelength-specific filter. The source, which can be a super-luminescent light-emitting diode (SLED), emits optical power. The repeating filter, which can be a Fabray-Perot etalon, filters the optical power into a repeating spectral response, and the wavelength-specific filter attenuates the optical power of at least one predefined wavelength response within the wavelength band. The repeating filter and the wavelength-specific filter output a wavelength reference signal having the repeating spectral response attenuated at the at least one predefined wavelength response. The predefined wavelength response reduces the ambiguity that can occur in the repeating frequency locations found in the repeating spectral response. In this way, an absolute wavelength reference is intrinsically provided in the wavelength reference that removes the location ambiguity caused by the repeating spectral response.

Abstract: Described herein is a wavelength reference device comprising a housing defining an internal environment having a known temperature. A broadband optical source is disposed within the housing and configured to emit an optical signal along an optical path. The optical signal has optical power within a wavelength band of interest. An optical etalon is also disposed within the housing and positioned in the optical path to filter the optical signal to define a filtered optical signal that includes one or more reference spectral features having a known wavelength at the known temperature. The device also includes an optical output for outputting the filtered optical signal.

Abstract: Described herein is a wavelength reference device comprising a housing defining an internal environment having a known temperature. A broadband optical source is disposed within the housing and configured to emit an optical signal along an optical path. The optical signal has optical power within a wavelength band of interest. An optical etalon is also disposed within the housing and positioned in the optical path to filter the optical signal to define a filtered optical signal that includes one or more reference spectral features having a known wavelength at the known temperature. The device also includes an optical output for outputting the filtered optical signal.

Abstract: Described herein is a wavelength reference device comprising a housing defining an internal environment having a known temperature. A broadband optical source is disposed within the housing and configured to emit an optical signal along an optical path. The optical signal has optical power within a wavelength band of interest. An optical etalon is also disposed within the housing and positioned in the optical path to filter the optical signal to define a filtered optical signal that includes one or more reference spectral features having a known wavelength at the known temperature. The device also includes an optical output for outputting the filtered optical signal.

Abstract: A method of adding wavelengths to an “in-service” WDM optical network system carrying live traffic. The method divides the wavelength into groups and adds each group of wavelengths into the working system in a parallel way by determining the desired TX launch power change for each wavelength from a predetermined value and applying the power changes for the group all together. When the system performance degradation happens after wavelengths addition, a wavelength power balance method according to another aspect of this invention can be applied to optimize the system performance. The power balance method first identifies the wavelengths to be optimized and classifies the wavelengths into controllable and reserved wavelengths; the total power available for wavelength adjustment is then determined; for each controllable wavelength, the required TX launch power which will bring the wavelength to meet the desired performance is determined and applied.