Multiple-access ultrastable frequency dissemination based on optical frequency combs via a fiber link

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Metrology
• Telecommunications

Background:

• Accurate frequency dissemination is crucial for advanced scientific and technological applications.
• Optical fiber networks offer a promising infrastructure for transmitting precise frequency signals over long distances.
• Existing methods face challenges in maintaining frequency stability due to environmental noise and fiber impairments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a multiple-access optical fiber-based frequency transmission system.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of a phase compensation technique in reducing frequency instabilities.
• To assess the potential of the proposed method for disseminating ultrastable frequency references.

Main Methods:

• Utilized two optical frequency combs for frequency transmission.
• Implemented a phase compensation technique to mitigate frequency fluctuations.
• Employed Allan deviation analysis and power spectral density of phase noise measurements.
• Conducted experiments on an optical fiber link with an accessing node.

Main Results:

• Achieved frequency instabilities of 8.7 × 10^-15/1 s and 1.0 × 10^-17/10³ s at the remote site.
• Measured frequency instabilities of 6.9 × 10^-15/1 s and 1.1 × 10^-17/10³ s at the accessing node.
• Demonstrated a two to three orders of magnitude improvement in performance due to the compensation scheme.

Conclusions:

• The developed optical fiber-based frequency transmission technique effectively disseminates ultrastable frequency references.
• The phase compensation method significantly enhances frequency stability in optical fiber networks.
• This technology holds potential for future applications requiring high-precision frequency distribution.