Requirements / Specification Document

TITLE: Low-Power Dual-Comb Laser

Requesting Laboratory / Division / Group:

Communications Technology Laboratory Spectrum Technology and Research Division Fiber Sources and Applications Group (675.02)

General Statement of Need:

The Fiber Sources and Applications group is developing methods for precision ranging and timing over free space based on frequency combs. The critical technology for future fielded systems will be high performance, dual-frequency comb systems. In addition to achieving low relative phase noise by phase-locking to a common continuous wave laser, this dual comb system must also have low size-weight-and-power (SWAP) and the potential for future space operation.

The hardware acquired under this procurement is intended for integration into a series of field experiments conducted in uncontrolled, non-laboratory environments. Unlike stable laboratory settings, these deployment sites are characterized by severe spatial limitations and restricted power budgets, necessitating a dual-comb system with a highly optimized Form Factor and minimal power consumption. Furthermore, because these systems will be exposed to fluctuating ambient conditions without the benefit of climate-controlled housing, it is critical that the hardware maintains operational stability across a broad temperature range to ensure data integrity and system reliability during remote field operations.

Item Specifications and Quantities:

Item 1: Low-Power Dual-Comb Quantity: 1 EACH

System Specifications: Dual Frequency Comb System

System Architecture & Components

• Configuration: Dual fully self-referenceable fiber frequency combs.

• Included Hardware:

o Fully integrated pump laser diodes and associated drive electronics.

o All actuators require phase locking of the two combs with ~200 kHz feedback bandwidths.

o The system will be used for coherent scanning of the comb frequencies guided by a swept cw laser (at slew rates up to 100 MHz/s), meaning that the cavity length must be able to tune significantly while maintaining high coherence optical phase locks (<0.3 radian residual phase noise) relative to a scanning cw laser and <3 radians of residual noise on the CEO. The locks must be cycle-slip free during the entire sweep of up to 8 kHz on the comb repetition rate.

These are critical and difficult requirements and vendors must submit testing data or point to published literature results showing that these performance requirements can be met.

o Photoreceivers for detection of repetition frequency, and carrier-envelope-offset frequency integrated into the box.

Frequency Comb Performance for each comb

• Power Output: 15 mW

• Spectral Output Width (3 dB FWHM): >20 nm

• Pulse Width: <150% of bandwidth limit

• Repetition Frequency:

o 200.000 MHz at a temperature within +/-5 oC of 25oC o Independently tunable for user-controlled mismatch up to 10 kHz

• Mutual Optical Phase Noise: < 0.25 radians (relative to CW laser and other comb)

• Carrier-Envelope Offset (CEO) Phase Noise: < 3 radians (Free-running linewidth <500 kHz)

• Cross-Correlation: >20 dB suppression of secondary interference signals outside the main centerburst.

Signal Outputs (via Optical PM Fiber/Oscillator Tap)

• Repetition Frequency Beat Signal: -5 dBm; >60 dB SNR in 300 kHz BW

• CEO Beat Signal: -20 dBm; >40 dB SNR in 300 kHz BW

• Optical Heterodyne Beat Signal (vs CW laser): >30 dB SNR in 300 kHz BW

Actuator Performance. Cavity length and CEO modulation are required

• Cavity Length Actuator Bandwidths (3 dB):

o Oscillator Temperature: 1 Hz o Slow PZT: 100 Hz o Fast PZT: 200 kHz

• Cavity Length Actuator Range (All values reflect frequency tuning of the optical teeth at 1550nm while maintaining cycle slip free phase locks on both optical and CEO locks):

o Oscillator Temperature (or similar): 20 GHz tuning of the optical teeth at >100MHz second.

o Tunning of > 500 MHz in less than 0.1 seconds o Tunning of > 1 MHz in less than 1 millisecond

• CEO Frequency Actuator Bandwidths (3 dB): >200 kHz

• CEO Actuator Range (All values reflect CEO tuning while maintaining cycle slip free phase locks on both optical and CEO locks):

o Tunning of > 200 MHz in less than 0.1 seconds o Tunning of > 1 MHz in less than 1 millisecond

Physical & Electrical Specifications for the combined package

The complete system must fit in a 2U rack with room for airflow

• Maximum housing height: <7cm

• Maximum housing width: <47 cm

• Size Envelope: <10 liters; <9 kg

• Power Consumption: <20 W

• Operating Voltage: ± 6 VDC

• RF Connectors: SMA

• Optical Connectors: FC/APC bulkhead (PM 1550 fiber)

• Thermal Management:

o Conduction via baseplate o Operational range: 20–40°C

Control Interface: USB interface with APIs to monitor and control all pump diode settings (e.g.

on/off, diode current, temp set point, temp limit) as well as oscillator temperatures.

Vendor Requirements

1. Possess at time of award/contracting an Export Control Classification Number (ECCN).

2. Possess at time of award/contracting a Unique Entity Identification Number (UEI) which registration is listed as “Active” on the GSA System for Award Management (SAM.gov).

Procurement Support Information and Ancillary Services:

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☒ NIST-Boulder

Mail Stop:675.02 325 Broadway Boulder, CO 80305

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