US 5,978,130 A · Dual-band fiber optic amplification system using a single pump source

Abstract

A dual-band optical amplifier uses a single pump source, such as a YAG solid-state laser emitting a pump light at a wavelength of 1047 nm, to provide amplification in both the 1550 nm and 1310 nm bands which are commonly encountered in the optical telecommunications environment. The pump light is fed into a fiber doped with praseodymium fluoride having Pr atoms in a +3 ionization state. These ions exhibit a ground state absorption that includes the 1047 nm wavelength. The same pump light is also coupled to a separate amplification fiber doped with trivalent erbium ions and ytterbium. This combination of ions also can be pumped to a metastable excited state by a 1047 nm wavelength source. Accordingly, when photon emission is generated, there is signal amplification in both fibers results.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A fiber optic amplification system for use in an optical communications environment, comprising:

a laser illumination source for providing a pump beam to excite a dopant in a fiber doped therewith;
and
a first fiber optic conduit doped with a first dopant and a second fiber optic conduit doped with a second and different dopant, said first and second conduits each optically coupled to said laser illumination source for receiving said pump beam, two information carrying signals each having a given different wavelength and provided to a corresponding one of said first and second conduits, ions of said first and second dopants being excited by said pump beam into a higher energy level and then relax so that radiation is emitted at the respective given wavelengths for said two information carrying signals.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Dual-band fiber optic amplification system using a single pump source

Life of this patent

Dual-band fiber optic amplification system using a single pump source

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19