Optical systems and devices employing spectrally flattened amplified spontaneous emission

Abstract

In accordance with the invention a high power, broad bandwidth light source comprises at least one rare earth doped fiber coupled to a long period grating. When the rare earth doped fiber is pumped to operate as an amplified spontaneous emission source, the grating flattens and broadens the output spectrum. Using an Nd doped fiber, applicants have achieved an output power of 25 mW at a center wavelength of 1.08 .mu.m, a spectral width of 40 nm and a coherence length of 10 .mu.m. The source has a flat output spectrum with a maximum slope of 0.1 dB/nm across the full spectral width, and it can be conveniently dropped into any fiber system requiring high power and a broad spectrum. Using an Er-doped fiber, applicants have achieved an output power of 7.3 mW at a center wavelength of 1.55 .mu.m and a spectral width of 38 nm. The source has a flat output spectrum with a maximum ripple of 1.7 dB across the full width. This source is compatible with the needs for a spectrum sliced source.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.