US 6,388,803 B1 · Article comprising a broad band optical amplifier

Abstract

A broad band optical amplifier includes at least one free space wavelength demultiplexer/multiplexer and optical gain means. The free space demultiplexer/multiplexer receives a multiplexed signal and spatially separates it into a plurality of spectral components each having a unique peak wavelength. The optical gain means has a plurality of wavelength-selective gain regions that are capable of imparting gain to (i.e., amplifying) an optical signal over a particular narrow range of wavelengths. The operational range (i.e., the particular narrow range of wavelengths) of each gain region is unique. The spatially-separated spectral components are individually delivered to specific gain regions by the demultiplexer/multiplexer as a function of the peak wavelength of the spectral component and the operative range of the gain region.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A broadband optical amplifier comprising:

a first free space diffraction grating operating to receive a multiplexed optical signal and separate it into its spectral components along a first direction;
and
an optical gain means having a plurality of adjacent wavelength-specific gain regions, said diffraction grating and optical gain means arranged such that each spectral component of the multiplexed signal is spatially mapped along said first direction onto a different wavelength-specific gain region of said optical gain means, with each adjacent wavelength-specific gain region providing selective gain for the corresponding spectral component of the multiplexed optical signal incident thereon.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Article comprising a broad band optical amplifier

Life of this patent

Article comprising a broad band optical amplifier

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15