High power lightwave transmitter using highly saturated amplifier for residual AM suppression

Method for generating a high power optical signal which is substantially immune from stimulated Brillouin scattering in a transmission medium having a refractive index n and an effective length L.sub.eff, the method comprising the steps of:

• generating an optical output signal having a wavelength which varies at a periodic rate about a predetermined optical carrier wavelength;
• and
• reducing a peak-to-peak amplitude of residual amplitude modulation on said optical output signal by amplifying the signal so that the periodic rate occurs in a small signal intensity response region in the neighborhood of or below a low frequency cutoff and above or equal to c/2nL.sub.eff.

Optical transmitter apparatus for generating a high power optical signal which is substantially immune from stimulated Brillouin scattering in a transmission medium having a refractive index n and an effective length L.sub.eff, the apparatus comprising:

• an optical source for generating an intensity modulated output signal having a carrier wavelength which varies about a predetermined wavelength at a periodic rate, f.sub.d ;
• and
• highly saturated amplifier means responsive to the intensity modulated output signal for reducing a peak-to-peak amplitude of residual amplitude modulation occurring substantially related to said periodic rate on said intensity modulated output signal, said amplifier means having a low cutoff frequency, f.sub.c, being greater than or equal to c/2nL.sub.eff, and wherein c/2nL.sub.eff .ltoreq.f.sub.d .ltoreq.f.sub.c.

Optical transmitter apparatus for generating a high power optical signal which is substantially immune from stimulated Brillouin scattering in a transmission medium having a refractive index n and an effective length L.sub.eff, the apparatus comprising:

• an optical source for generating a continuous wave output signal having a carrier wavelength which varies about a predetermined wavelength at a periodic rate, f.sub.d ;
• and
• highly saturated amplifier means responsive to the intensity modulated output signal for reducing a peak-to-peak amplitude of residual amplitude modulation occurring substantially related to said periodic rate on said intensity modulated output signal, said amplifier means having a low cutoff frequency, f.sub.c, being greater than or equal to c/2nL.sub.eff, and wherein c/2nL.sub.eff .ltoreq.f.sub.d .ltoreq.f.sub.c.