Method of amplifying optical signals using doped materials with extremely broad bandwidths

US6490081B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University · US

Inventors

• Yannick G. Feillens · Saint-Affrique, FR
• Michel J. F. Digonnet · Palo Alto, US
• Martin M. Fejer · Menlo Park, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 28, 2000
• Grant date: Dec 3, 2002
• Expiry date: Aug 13, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01S3/1643
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

In a method of amplifying optical input signals over a wide bandwidth, the optical input signals are applied to an optical waveguide made from a rare-earth-doped amorphous material (e.g., erbium-doped yttrium aluminum oxide material). The optical input signals include optical signals having wavelengths over a range of at least 80 nanometers, and, preferably, over a range of at least 160 nanometers. Pump light is applied to the optical waveguide to cause the waveguide to provide optical gain to the optical input signals. The optical gain causes the optical signals to be amplified within the waveguide to provide amplified optical signals over the extended 80-160-nanometer range, including, in particular, optical signals having wavelengths at one end of the range and optical signals having wavelengths at a second end or the range.