Resonant pumped short cavity fiber laser with multiple optical resonators

A multiple wavelength optical signal generator apparatus for providing an optical signal comprising a plurality of different discrete wavelengths along a single optical path, the apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of discrete optical resonators each having a gain medium which absorbs optical pump energy at a pump wavelength, each resonator having a cavity separate from the cavities of the other resonators and arranged to resonate at a particular signal wavelength and to output an optical signal at a wavelength different than the output wavelengths of the other cavities;
• an optical coupler that receives the optical signals from the resonators and couples them into a single optical waveguide;
• and
• a pump energy source emitting optical pump energy at the pump wavelength and coupling it to each of the resonators.

A method of simultaneously generating a plurality of optical outputs having different wavelengths and a predetermined distribution of output powers, the method comprising:

• providing a plurality of discrete optical resonators each having a gain medium which absorbs optical pump energy at a first pump wavelength and emits optical energy, and each having a cavity separate from the cavities of the other resonators and arranged to resonate at a different primary signal wavelength;
• generating optical energy at the first pump wavelength;
• and
• receiving the optical pump energy with an optical coupler and distributing it to the resonators according to a predetermined pump power distribution that results in the resonators generating the outputs with the predetermined power distribution.

A method of providing an optical signal having a plurality of different discrete wavelengths along a single optical path, the method comprising:

• providing a plurality of discrete optical resonators each having a gain medium which absorbs optical pump energy at a pump wavelength, each resonator having a cavity separate from the cavities of the other resonators and arranged to resonate at a particular signal wavelength and to output an optical signal at a wavelength different than the output wavelengths of the other cavities;
• receiving the optical signals from the resonators and coupling them into a single optical waveguide with an optical coupler;
• and
• generating optical pump energy at the pump wavelength with a pump energy source and coupling it to each of the resonators.