Multi-stage long-band optical amplifier with ase re-use
AssigneeInstitut National D'Optique
InventorLouis DESBIENS
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Abstract
There is provided a long-band rare-earth-doped optical amplifier and method for amplifying an optical signal. The optical amplifier has a pre-, a mid- and a post-amplification stage. Only the mid-amplification stage is pumped with a pump light source. The other two are pumped using Amplified Spontaneous Emission (ASE) generated in the mid-amplification stage. An optical coupling device is used to couple the three amplification stages together and to split the ASE generated in the mid-amplification stage and available at one end of the mid-amplification stage. One part of the split ASE is used to pump the pre-amplification stage while the other part is used to pump the post-amplification stage.
Claims20
A method for amplifying an optical signal in a long-band optical amplifier, the method comprising:
- propagating the optical signal in a first rare-earth-doped amplification waveguide and in a second rare-earth-doped amplification waveguide;
- pumping said second rare-earth-doped amplification waveguide with a pump light source to amplify the optical signal propagating in the pumped second rare-earth-doped amplification waveguide into an amplified optical signal, said pumping generating amplified spontaneous emission in said second rare-earth-doped amplification waveguide;
- splitting said amplified spontaneous emission in at least a first and a second part of amplified spontaneous emission;
- coupling said first part in said first rare-earth-doped amplification waveguide for pumping said first rare-earth-doped amplification waveguide to pre-amplify the optical signal propagating therein;
- and
- coupling said amplified optical signal and said second part in a third rare-earth-doped amplification waveguide, said second part pumping said third rare-earth-doped amplification waveguide for post-amplification of said amplified optical signal.
An optical amplifier for amplifying an optical signal in a long-band of said optical amplifier, the optical amplifier comprising:
- a pre-amplification stage having a first rare-earth-doped amplification waveguide, the optical signal to be coupled at an input of said first rare-earth-doped amplification waveguide for pre-amplification of the optical signal;
- a mid-amplification stage having a second rare-earth-doped amplification waveguide pumped with a pump light source for mid-amplification of the optical signal, said mid-amplification generating amplified spontaneous emission in said second rare-earth-doped amplification waveguide;
- a post-amplification stage having a third rare-earth-doped amplification waveguide for post-amplification of the optical signal;
- and
- an optical coupling device connected between said pre-amplification stage, said mid-amplification stage and said post-amplification stage for coupling the optical signal received from said pre-amplification stage to said mid-amplification stage, and from said mid-amplification stage to said post-amplification stage, said optical coupling device receiving said amplified spontaneous emission from said mid-amplification stage, and splitting it in a first and a second part such that said first part is coupled to said pre-amplification stage for pumping said pre-amplification stage, and said second part is coupled to said post-amplification stage for pumping said post-amplification stage.
An optical amplifier for amplifying an optical signal in a long-band of said optical amplifier, the optical amplifier comprising:
- a pre-amplification stage having a first rare-earth-doped amplification waveguide, the optical signal to be coupled at an input of said first rare-earth-doped amplification waveguide for pre-amplification of the optical signal;
- a mid-amplification stage having a second rare-earth-doped amplification waveguide pumped with a pump light source for mid-amplification of the optical signal, said mid-amplification generating amplified spontaneous emission in said second rare-earth-doped amplification waveguide;
- a post-amplification stage having a third rare-earth-doped amplification waveguide for post-amplification of the optical signal;
- and
- an optical coupling device for coupling said pre-, mid- and post-amplification stages and having (1) a first port connected to an output of said pre-amplification stage and a third port connected to an input of said mid-amplification stage for coupling the optical signal received from said pre-amplification stage to said mid-amplification stage, and (2) a second port connected to an output of said mid-amplification stage and a fourth port connected to an input of said post-amplification stage for coupling the optical received from said mid-amplification stage to said post-amplification stage;
- (3) said optical coupling device interconnecting said first, second, third and fourth ports so as to split said amplified spontaneous emission received on at least one of said second and said third port, in a first and a second part respectively to said first and said fourth port, such that said first part is coupled to said pre-amplification stage for pumping said pre-amplification stage, and said second part is coupled to said post-amplification stage for pumping said post-amplification stage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.