US 2003/0112499 A1 · Method of amplifying optical signals using doped materials with extremely broad bandwidths

Abstract

In a method of amplifying optical input signals over a wide bandwidth, the optical input signals are applied to an optical waveguide made from a rare-earth-doped amorphous material (e.g., erbium-doped yttrium aluminum oxide material). The optical input signals include optical signals having wavelengths over a range of at least 80 nanometers, and, preferably, over a range of at least 160 nanometers. Pump light is applied to the optical waveguide to cause the waveguide to provide optical gain to the optical input signals. The optical gain causes the optical signals to be amplified within the waveguide to provide amplified optical signals over the extended 80-160-nanometer range, including, in particular, optical signals having wavelengths at one end of the range and optical signals having wavelengths at a second end or the range.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A method for amplifying optical input signals over an extended optical bandwidth, said method comprising:

inputting the optical input signals to an optical waveguide comprising an amorphous Y3Sc2Ga3O12 material doped with a rare earth, said optical input signals including at least a first optical signal having a first wavelength and at least a second optical signal having a second wavelength approximately 130 nanometers greater than said first wavelength;
and
applying pump light to said optical waveguide to cause said waveguide to provide optical gain to said optical input signals such that at least said first optical signal and said second optical signal are amplified.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

10/282,155Filed 25 Oct 2002

Priority

28 Jul 2000

Published

19 Jun 2003

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

H01S 3/06754
Fibre lasers: fibre amplifiers
H01S 3/06766
Having a specific amplification band: c-band amplifiers, i.e. amplification in the range of about 1530 nm to 1560 nm
H01S 3/0677
Having a specific amplification band: l-band amplifiers, i.e. amplification in the range of about 1560 nm to 1610 nm
H01S 3/094011
The pumped medium being a fibre: with bidirectional pumping, i.e. with injection of the pump light from both two ends of the fibre

Method of amplifying optical signals using doped materials with extremely broad bandwidths

Life of this patent

Method of amplifying optical signals using doped materials with extremely broad bandwidths

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims8