Systems and methods to reduce the power consumption of an optical fiber amplifier

A system for amplifying an optical signal comprising:

• a first optical amplifier including a first segment of doped optical fiber configured to generate an optical output including the optical signal at a first wavelength band, an optical surplus wavelength band, and an optical pumping wavelength band, the optical surplus wavelength band being located spectrally between the first wavelength band and the optical pumping wavelength band;
• a second optical amplifier including a second segment of doped optical fiber;
• and
• at least one optical component optically coupled between the first optical amplifier and the second optical amplifier,
• wherein:
• the at least one optical component is configured to:
• receive the optical output from the first segment of doped optical fiber of the first optical amplifier;
• prevent a transmission of at least part of the optical surplus wavelength band from the first segment of doped optical fiber to the second segment of doped optical fiber;
• and
• transmit the first wavelength band and the optical pumping wavelength band from the first segment of doped optical fiber to the second segment of doped optical fiber, the second segment of doped optical fiber being configured to be optically pumped by the transmitted optical pumping wavelength band and to amplify the optical signal by stimulated emission of radiation,
• the system further comprising a third optical amplifier including a third segment of doped optical fiber, wherein the second optical amplifier is optically coupled in series with between the first optical amplifier and the third optical amplifier.

A method of amplifying an optical signal comprising, the method comprising:

• generating, from a first segment of doped optical fiber, an optical output that includes the optical signal at a first wavelength band, an optical pumping wavelength band, and an optical surplus wavelength band, the optical surplus wavelength band being located spectrally between the first wavelength band and the optical pumping wavelength band;
• filtering the optical output with a band-stop filter to prevent transmission of at least part of the optical surplus wavelength band while transmitting the first wavelength band and the optical pumping wavelength to a second segment of doped optical fiber;
• and
• amplifying the optical signal at the second segment of doped optical fiber by stimulated emission of radiation, wherein said amplifying is powered at least in part by optically pumping the second segment of doped optical fiber with the transmitted optical pumping wavelength band to provide population inversion.