GigaTera, provider of pulse and multi-wavelength lasers for optical communications and signal processing, announced today the demonstration of a single laser source generating over 32 wavelengths suitable for WDM fiber-optic transmission.
GigaTera's compact pulsed laser produces a multi-wavelength optical spectrum composed of many highly stable individual optical frequencies that can be locked to the standard ITU grid, explain company representatives. Currently, wavelengths are generated using separate lasers that take-up racks of equipment in a telecom operator's facilities and require complex stabilization.
"Network operators want to add capacity and flexibility in their metro and regional optical networks," reports Kurt Weingerten, chief technology officer of GigTera. "Increasing the number of optical channels on a single fiber is one of the easiest ways to do this. However, they are also currently under tremendous cost pressure and need to reduce the space and operating expense of WDM systems." GigaTera's multi-wavelength platform technology fills a critical gap for cost-effective WDM transmission, says Weingerten, by providing the performance of a DFB laser but at approximately the cost per wavelength of a VCSEL.
By combining Silicon Light Machines' MEMS-based Dynamic Gain Equalizer with GigaTera's multi-wavelength laser, the companies have also demonstrated a highly reconfigurable as well as low cost alternative for WDM transmission.
"GigaTera's technology will enable what is currently done with racks of separate lasers to be condensed onto a single linecard," adds Weingarten.
Fore more information about GigaTera (Zurich, Switzerland), visit the company's Web site at www.gigatera.com.