Patent · US Expired

L-band amplification with detuned 980nm pump

US6307669A · kind A · utility

5Cited by
3References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 12, 1999
Grant dateOct 23, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 12, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01S2303/00
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method of operating an optical amplifier for improved gain and pump-to-signal conversion efficiency in a long wavelength spectral region (L-band) of the emission spectrum of a rare earth doped gain medium having a known pump absorption band involves the steps of providing an optical signal to the amplifier having a large-signal input power; and providing pumping light to the amplifier having a wavelength that is different from a center wavelength of the known pump absorption band for amplifying the optical signal. Signal gain and improved pump-to-signal conversion efficiency was demonstrated for an erbium L-band signal by detuning the pump between about .+-.0-30 nm on either side of the pump band center wavelength of 979-980 nm. An optical amplifier employing the described method is also disclosed.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.