Optical fibre amplifiers
AssigneeNortel Networks Limited
InventorsAndrew V Maroney, Daria Crippa, Jowan Masum-Thomas
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optical amplification system has an active fibre section having an optical fibre 10 and containment means 8, 12 containing light of a specific wavelength within the active fibre section. The specific wavelength of light is the result of the spontaneous transition of photons. The contained photons stimulate further photons emissions, which depopulates energy levels involved in the amplification process.
Claims15
An optical amplification system for amplifying an input optical signal, comprising an active fibre section having an optical fibre doped with ions capable of transition from a first energy level to a second, lower energy level, thereby to emit photons at the wavelength of the input optical signal and capable of spontaneous transition from the second energy level to a third, lowest energy level;
- means for containing within the active fibre section photons emitted as a result of the spontaneous transitions of dopant ions from the second level to the third level, thereby to stimulate further transitions of dopant ions only from the second level to the third level.
A method of operating an optical amplification system for amplifying an input optical signal, comprising an active fibre section having an optical fibre doped with ions capable of transition from a first energy level to a second, lower energy level, thereby to emit photons at the wavelength of the input optical signal and capable of spontaneous transition from the second energy level to a third, lowest energy level;
- the method involving the step of containing within the active fibre section photons emitted as a result of spontaneous transitions thereby to stimulate the transition of further dopant ions only from the second level to the third level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.