Precise Simultaneous Multiwavelength Tuning by Electrical RF Signals

A method of simultaneous precise multiwavelength tuning using electrical instead of mechanical control is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. This method is achieved by using a single-side-band modulator driven by electrical radio frequency (RF) signals. It is demonstrated that the multiwavelength signals can be simultaneously tuned in frequency by an amount equal to the frequency of the RF signal. A total of 32 wavelengths with a spacing of 100 GHz (i.e., 0.8 nm at the wavelength of 1550 nm) are simultaneously tuned from 4 to 12 GHz experimentally. In principle, the tuning resolution is determined by the resolution of the RF wave generator and the line width of the light source in the system. An acceptable homogenous 20.59-dB side-band-mode suppression ratio is achieved for each wavelength output.