Evaluating Optical Fiber Links with Data Filtering and Allan Deviation

Abstract: In this paper we propose a simple method to reject the high-frequency noise in the evaluation of statistical uncertainty of coherent optical fiber links. Specifically, we propose a preliminary data filtering, separated from the frequency stability computation. In this way, it is possible to use the Allan deviation as estimator of stability, to get unbiased data, which are representative of the noise process affecting the delivered signal. Our approach is alternative to the use of the modified Allan deviation, which is largely adopted in this field. We apply this processing to the experimental data we obtained on a 1284 km coherent optical link for frequency dissemination, which we realized in Italy. We also show how the so-called Lambda-type commercial phase/frequency counters can be used to this purpose.