Optical: systems and elements – Optical amplifier – Optical fiber
Patent
1997-11-14
1999-11-23
Moskowitz, Nelson
Optical: systems and elements
Optical amplifier
Optical fiber
359160, 359342, 359345, 372 72, H01S 3091, H01S 3094, G02B 626
Patent
active
059910704
ABSTRACT:
An optical amplifier uses a gain medium pumped with pump energy of a first wavelength that oscillates through the gain medium. In one embodiment, the pumping is essentially a cavity resonator that is coupled to either end of the gain medium such that oscillating pump energy passes through the gain medium as it reflects back and forth between the ends of the cavity. Highly reflective gratings may be used to maintain the oscillation of the pump energy, and a pump energy source, such as pumped doped optical fiber, is coupled to at least one of the gratings. In another embodiment, the pump source consists of multiple reflectors used at each end, and independent pump sources each having a slightly different wavelength within the absorption spectrum of the amplifier are coupled together, such that two pump wavelengths are simultaneously oscillated through the gain medium. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the reflective gratings are integrated directly into a portion of the pathway through which the signal to be amplified passes. This embodiment uses a pump source that causes generation of the pump energy in the gain medium which, in turn, provides amplification of the optical signal. A two-pass embodiment is also shown in which the optical signal enters and exits from the same end of the amplifier gain medium. An optical circulator may be used to provide unidirectional porting of the input and output signals to the gain medium.
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O plus B, #113, pp. 75-82, 1989.
Waarts Robert
Zanoni Raymond
Moskowitz Nelson
SDL Inc.
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