Methods and apparatus related to maintaining a pre-determined ratio of a
pilot tone power and a total mean optical power of an optical signal are provided.
One method includes the steps of detecting the AC and DC components of an optical
signal having a pilot tone signal. An amplitude of the pilot tone signal is varied
in accordance with a difference between a pre-determined value and a ratio of the
AC and DC components. Another method includes the step of generating an optical
signal in accordance with a DC bias and an AC bias corresponding to a pilot tone
signal. The AC and DC components of the optical signal are detected. At least one
of the DC bias and the AC bias is varied in accordance with a difference between
a pre-determined value and a ratio of the AC and DC components. An apparatus includes
an optical source providing an optical signal in response to a DC bias and an AC
bias corresponding to a pilot tone signal. The apparatus includes detectors coupled
to measure the AC and DC components of the optical signal. A feedback control varies
at least one of the DC bias and the AC bias in accordance with a difference between
a pre-determined value and a ratio of the AC and DC components. In various embodiments,
the DC bias only, the AC bias only, or both the AC bias and the DC bias are varied.