Compact optical amplifier, a system incorporating the same, and an optical amplification method

An optical amplifier comprising:

• a pump laser that emits pump radiation;
• a glass rod optically coupled to the pump laser to receive the pump radiation and having a planar side and a convex side, the planar side being opposed to and lying at least partially within a focal plane of the convex side, wherein the glass rod includes at least one dopant that amplifies an optical signal through stimulated emission;
• and
• an optical coating disposed on the planar side, wherein the optical coating reflects the optical signal.

An optical telecommunications system comprising:

• an input fiber carrying one or more optical signals;
• an output fiber;
• a pump source that emits pump power;
• and
• a light-transmitting medium being power-coupled to the pump source to receive the pump power and having a first side and a convex side, the first side being opposed to and lying at least partially within a focal plane of the convex side and including an optical coating that reflects the optical signals, wherein the input and output fibers are optically coupled to the convex side such that the light-transmitting medium images the optical signals from the input fiber onto the output fiber, and wherein the light-transmitting medium amplifies the optical signals through stimulated emission.

An optical telecommunications system comprising:

• an input fiber carrying one or more optical signals;
• an output fiber;
• a pump source that emits pump power;
• and
• a light-transmitting medium being power-coupled to the pump source to receive the pump power and having a first convex side and a second convex side, the first convex side being opposed to the second convex side, wherein the input fiber is optically coupled to the first convex side and the output fiber is optically coupled to the second convex side such that the light-transmitting medium images the optical signals from the input fiber onto the output fiber, and wherein the light-transmitting medium amplifies the optical signals through stimulated emission.

An optical telecommunications system comprising:

• an input fiber carrying one or more optical signals;
• an output fiber;
• a pump source that emits pump power;
• and
• a light-transmitting medium being power-coupled to the pump source to receive pump power and having a graded index of refraction, wherein the input and output fibers are optically coupled to the light-transmitting medium such that the light-transmitting medium images the optical signals from the input fiber onto the output fiber, and wherein the light-transmitting medium amplifies the optical signals through stimulated emission.

A method of amplifying an optical signal comprising:

• directing the optical signal from an input aperture into a light-transmitting medium;
• imaging the optical signal onto an output aperture with the light-transmitting medium;
• and
• injecting pump power into the light-transmitting medium while the optical signal is passing through the light-transmitting medium, wherein the light-transmitting medium amplifies the optical signal through stimulated emission.