Multiple band Raman amplifier pump source
AssigneeJDS Uniphase Corporation
InventorNicholas King
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical pumping apparatus provides pumping for a Raman amplifier across either the C-band alone, or across both the C-band and the L-band. A first pump unit provides the optical pump energy necessary for a flat gain response in the C-band. A second pump unit, operating as an upgrade module, can be activated to expand the pumping range into the L-band. The second unit provides both the pump energy for the expanded portion of the gain spectrum, as well as pump energy for the C-band that compensates for any disruption of the gain profile, so that a flat gain response is maintained across both the C-band and the L-band.
Claims26
An optical pumping apparatus for providing optical pump energy to an optical gain medium that provides optical gain by stimulated Raman scattering to each of a first wavelength range and a second wavelength range, the second wavelength range having longer wavelengths than the first wavelength range and not overlapping with the first wavelength range, the apparatus comprising:
- a first pump unit that provides optical pump energy to the gain medium that produces signal gain in the first wavelength range;
- and
- a second pump unit that has a first pump source that provides optical pump energy to the gain medium that produces signal gain in the second wavelength range, and a second pump source that provides optical pump energy to the gain medium that produces signal gain in the first wavelength range, the second pump unit being switchable such that the apparatus may be operated with just the first pump unit activated, or with both the first and second pump units activated.
An optical pumping apparatus for providing optical pump energy to an optical gain medium that provides optical gain by stimulated Raman scattering to each of a first wavelength range and a second wavelength range, the second wavelength range having longer wavelengths than the first wavelength range and not overlapping with the first wavelength range, the apparatus comprising:
- a first pump unit that provides optical pump energy to the gain medium that produces signal gain in the first wavelength range;
- a second pump unit that has a first pump source that provides optical pump energy to the gain medium that produces signal gain in the second wavelength range, and a second pump source that provides optical pump energy to the gain medium and that produces signal gain in the first wavelength range while not producing signal gain in the second wavelength range any greater than half of the maximum signal gain in the first wavelength range, the apparatus being operable with just the first pump source activated or with both the first and second pump units activated, when the second pump source is not activated, the signal gain not deviating by more than 1 dB from a pre-selected spectral shape of the gain spectrum of the first wavelength range, and when the second pump source is activated, the signal gain not deviating more than 1 dB from a preselected spectral shape of the gain spectrum across the first wavelength range and the second wavelength range;
- and
- a pump signal combiner that combines the pump energy from the first pump unit and the second pump unit and directs it to the optical gain medium.
A method of providing optical pump energy to an optical gain medium that provides optical gain by stimulated Raman scattering to each of a first wavelength range and a second wavelength range, the second wavelength range having longer wavelengths than the first wavelength range and not overlapping with the first wavelength range, the method comprising:
- coupling optical pump energy into the gain medium with a first pump unit so as to produce signal gain in the first wavelength range;
- and
- activating a second optical pump unit coupled with the first pump unit, the second pump unit comprising a first pump source, the optical output from which produces signal gain in the second wavelength range, and a second pump source, the optical output from which produces signal gain in the first wavelength range, the apparatus being operable with just the first pump source activated, or with both the first and second pump units activated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.