Abstract
We have developed accurate optical frequency standards based on acetylene absorption lines in the 1.5 μm optical fiber communication band. We realized acetylene-stabilized diode lasers with a frequency reproducibility of 10 kHz (5×10-11). We have determined the absolute optical frequency of acetylene transitions with an uncertainty of 12 kHz (6×10-11). As a result, the acetylene transition (13C2H2 P(16)) was adopted as a recommended radiation for the realization of the meter. Thus the acetylene optical frequency standard can be used as a calibration frequency reference for the wavelength-division-multiplexed (WDM) optical communication systems in the 1.5 μm region.
