Multiple-Branch Optical Frequency Transfer Without the Frequency Allocation Constraints

Abstract

We report on the realization of a multiple-branch optical frequency transfer method, which can be adopted to deliver an optical reference to multiple independent remote sites. In comparison with the previous techniques, the proposed technique mitigates the frequency allocation constraints of the driving frequencies for the acousto-optic modulators (AOMs) at the remote sites by adding a short loop fiber link at the local site. The end-to-end optical path phase noise detection and compensation for each remote site is simultaneously performed at the remote site, which significantly simplifies the configuration at the local site, and can improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and reduce the cycle slip rate. We also conduct theoretical analysis for the effect of frequency aliasing from the perspective of different refractive index in triple-pass optical frequency transfer, analyze the effect of the SNR and cycle slips on the fractional frequency instability, and present a comprehensive equation for calculating noise contributions from end-to-end optical frequency transfer over the multiple-branch fiber network, demonstrating that the implementation of the fiber noise cancellation (FNC) for the each branch consisting of two fiber topologies with the single FNC setup is practical. This technique paves the way to integrate the optical frequency networks into the existing fiber communication networks with the higher compatibility and reliability.