Optical fiber amplifier including rare-earth-doped cladding region
US9093815B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 27, 2013 |
| Grant date | Jul 28, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 27, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S3/1695
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A rare earth doped optical fiber amplifier is configured to have an enlarged core region and a trench formed adjacent to the core, where at least an inner portion of the trench is also formed to include a rare earth dopant. The presence of the rare earth dopant in the inner region of the cladding minimizes transient power fluctuations within the amplifier as the number of optical signals being amplified changes. The addition of rare earth dopant to the cladding increases the overlap between the pump, signal and the rare earth ions and thus improves the gain efficiency for the optical signal. The relatively large core diameter increases the saturation power level of the rare earth dopant and decreases the transients present in the gain as the input signal power fluctuates.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.