Wavelength selective coupler for high power optical communications

Apparatus for combining a plurality of optical signals for communication via a common transmission path comprising:

• means for coupling each of said optical signals to a corresponding grating;
• a collector fiber having a plurality of in-fiber gratings corresponding to said plurality of optical signals;
• means for joining the grating for each optical signal with a corresponding in-fiber grating of said collector fiber;
• and
• means for coupling an output end of said collector fiber to said transmission path.

A high power optical fiber amplifier comprising:

• an erbium and ytterbium codoped optical fiber having an input region and an output region;
• means for inputting an optical signal to the input region of said codoped optical fiber for amplification;
• and
• a neodymium fiber laser having an input end and an output end, said output end coupled to the input region of said codoped optical fiber for end pumping said codoped fiber, said neodymium fiber laser comprising:
• an optical fiber having a first core that provides a multimode waveguide and an adjacent neodymium doped second core;
• and
• a source of pump energy coupled to said first core for pumping said neodymium fiber laser;
• wherein said first core couples the pumping energy from said source to said second core.