Fiber amplifier system with variable communication channel capacities

A free-space communications system, comprising:

• a multi-path optical amplification system comprising:
• a first modulated light source for emitting modulated light at a first wavelength (λ1 modulated light);
• a second modulated light source for emitting modulated light at a second wavelength (λ2 modulated light) different from said λ1 modulated light;
• a first signal splitter with an input coupled to receive said λ1 modulated light having a first split output providing a first λ1 modulated light signal and a second split output providing a second λ1 modulated light signal;
• a second signal splitter with an input coupled to receive said λ2 modulated light having a first split output providing a first λ2 modulated light signal and a second split output providing a second λ2 modulated light signal;
• a first optical amplifier having a first amplifier input for receiving said first λ1 modulated light signal and generating a first amplified output signal, and
• a second optical amplifier having a second amplifier input for receiving said second λ1 modulated light signal and generating a second amplified output signal;
• a first optical amplifier for amplifying a second color having a third amplifier input for receiving said first λ2 modulated light signal and generating a third amplified output signal, and a second optical amplifier for amplifying the second color having a fourth amplifier input for receiving said second λ2 modulated light signal and generating a fourth amplified output signal;
• a first collimator assembly having a first collimating input coupled to receive said first amplified output signal and provide a first output beam having a first beam divergence (D1), and
• a second collimator assembly having a second collimating input coupled to receive said second amplified output signal and provide a second output beam having a second beam divergence (D2),
• a first signal combiner between both said first optical amplifier and said second optical amplifier and said first collimator assembly, and a second signal combiner between both said second optical amplifier and said second color second optical amplifier for amplifying the second color and said second collimator assembly;
• wherein said D1 is different from said D2, and
• a free-space optics portion including a mirror coupled to reflect said first output beam toward a beam combiner that is in a path of said second output beam for combining said first output beam and said second output beam at an input of a single telescope.