Amplification device utilizing thulium doped modified silicate optical fiber
US6924928B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 2, 2002 |
| Grant date | Aug 2, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 3, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S3/1698
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A device amplifies light at wavelengths in the vicinity of 1420-1530 nm, using thulium doped silica-based optical fiber. This wavelength band is of interest as it falls in the low-loss optical fiber telecommunications window, and is somewhat shorter in wavelength than the currently standard erbium doped silica fiber amplifier. The device thus extends the band of wavelengths which can be supported for long-distance telecommunications. The additional wavelength band allows the data transmission rate to be substantially increased via wavelength division multiplexing (WDM), with minimal modification to the standard equipment currently used for WDM systems. The host glass is directly compatible with standard silica-based telecommunications fiber. The invention also enables modified silicate based amplifiers and lasers on a variety of alternative transitions. Specifically, an S-band thulium doped fiber amplifier (TDFA) using a true silicate fiber host is described.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.