Use of photonic band gap structures in optical amplifiers
OwnerAndrew V. Maroney, Andrew L. Reynoldsinventors
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Abstract
An optical amplifier uses a photonic band gap structure having a doped core defining at least a first wavelength range over which stimulated emission can occur after excitation caused by the introduction of pump light. The photonic band gap structure is designed to permit light having energy corresponding to the wavelength range to be transmitted only in selected directions, including along the photonic band gap structure. The propagation down the structure is one of a discrete number of possible transmission directions for the photons resulting from stimulated emission. This improves the pump efficiency, as the stimulated emissions are concentrated into the direction of propagation down the fiber.
Claims14
An optical amplifier comprising a photonic band gap structure, the structure comprising:
- a solid core which is doped with rare-earth dopant atoms;
- a cladding layer around the core and having a periodic lattice structure,
- wherein the rare-earth doped core defines at least a first wavelength range over which stimulated emission can occurs after excitation caused by the introduction of pump light, and wherein the photonic band gap structure is designed to permit light having energy corresponding to the wavelength range to be transmitted only in selected directions,
- wherein the selected directions comprise:
- a first direction along the photonic band gap structure.
A method of amplifying an optical signal using a photonic band gap structure having a rare-earth doped core and a cladding, the method comprising:
- introducing a signal to be amplified and a pump signal into the structure;
- constraining the photon emissions from the rare-earth atoms to take place in a plurality of directions, the directions comprising a first direction along the photonic band gap structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.