L-band optical amplifier based on thulium-doped silica fiber with cut-off
US6876490B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 10, 2003 |
| Grant date | Apr 5, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 10, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S2301/02
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A Thulium-doped silica fiber normally has its strongest gain at 1.9 microns and thus is not suitable for communication use. By engineering a W-profile or depressed cladding fiber with an appropriate index profile having a fundamental mode cut-off between 1.9 microns and the shorter wavelength of desired operation, an optical amplifier based on the W-profile Thulium-doped silica fiber operates at wavelengths shorter than conventional amplifiers, just above what is currently called the Erbium L-band. In a preferred embodiment, the cut-off wavelength is at or near 1.7 μm, eliminating longer wavelengths from the fiber. Amplifiers engineered according to the principles and techniques of the present invention can operate in the wavelength range between about 1.6 to 1.8 microns, which is particularly useful for telecommunications.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.