Gain control in nonlinear polarization amplifier stages
AssigneeXtera Communications, Inc.
InventorMohammed N. Islam
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A nonlinear polarization amplifier stage includes a gain medium operable, to receive a multiple wavelength optical signal. The amplifier stage also includes a pump assembly operable to generate at least one pump wavelength for introduction to the gain medium. The amplifier stage further includes a coupler operable to introduce the at least one pump wavelength to the gain medium to facilitate amplification of at least a portion of the multiple wavelength optical signal through nonlinear polarization. In one particular embodiment, at least a wavelength or an intensity of the at least one pump wavelength is manipulated to affect the shape of a gain curve associated with the multiple wavelength optical signal in the amplifier stage.
Claims79
A Raman amplifier stage comprising:
- a Raman gain medium operable to receive a multiple wavelength optical signal;
- a pump assembly operable to generate at least one pump wavelength for introduction to the gain medium, the pump assembly comprising a light source operable to generate the at least one pump wavelength at a desired intensity by controlling a drive current supplied to the light source;
- and
- a coupler operable to introduce the at least one pump wavelength to the gain medium to facilitate Raman amplification of at least a portion of the multiple wavelength optical signal;
- wherein the pump assembly controls at least an intensity of the at least one pump wavelength to affect the shape of a gain curve associated with the multiple wavelength optical signal in the Raman amplifier stage by controlling the current supplied to the light source.
A method of controlling the shape of a gain curve of a Raman amplifier stage, comprising:
- receiving a multiple wavelength signal at a Raman gain medium of a Raman amplifier stage;
- manipulating an intensity of a pump wavelength;
- and
- introducing the pump wavelength to the gain medium to facilitate Raman amplification of at least a portion of the multiple wavelength signal over at least a portion of the gain medium;
- wherein the shape of the gain curve for the amplifier stage is determined at least in part based on the manipulation of the intensity of the pump wavelength.
A Raman amplifier stage comprising:
- a pump assembly operable to generate a plurality of pump wavelengths for introduction to a Raman gain medium carrying a multiple wavelength optical signal, the plurality of pump wavelengths comprising a pump spectrum having a shape, the pump assembly comprising one or more light sources operable to generate the plurality of pump wavelengths at specified intensities by controlling a current supplied to the light source, wherein the pump assembly tailors the shape of the pump spectrum operable to be tailored to affect a desired shape of a gain curve for the multiple wavelength optical signal by controlling the current supplied to the light source;
- wherein the pump spectrum facilitates Raman amplification of at least a portion of the multiple wavelength signal over at least a portion of the gain medium, and wherein the shape of the gain curve for the multiple wavelength signal is determined at least in part by the shape of the pump spectrum.
A method of controlling the shape of a gain curve of a Raman amplifier stage, comprising:
- receiving a multiple wavelength signal at a Raman gain medium of a Raman amplifier stage;
- generating a pump spectrum comprising a plurality of pump wavelengths;
- tailoring the shape of at least a portion of the pump spectrum to affect a desired shape of a gain curve for the multiple wavelength signal;
- and
- introducing the pump spectrum to the gain medium to facilitate Raman amplification of at least a portion of the multiple wavelength signal over at least a portion of the gain medium, wherein the shape of the gain curve for the multiple wavelength signal is determined at least in part by the shape of the pump spectrum.
A Raman amplifier stage comprising:
- a Raman gain medium operable to receive a multiple wavelength optical signal;
- a pump assembly operable to generate at least one pump signal for introduction to the gain medium, the pump assembly comprising a wavelength selector operable to select a desired wavelength;
- and
- a coupler operable to introduce the at least one pump signal to the gain medium to facilitate Raman amplification of at least a portion of the multiple wavelength optical signal,
- wherein the wavelength selected by the wavelength selector is chosen to affect a desired shape of a gain curve associated with the multiple wavelength optical signal in the Raman amplifier stage.
A Raman amplifier stage comprising:
- a pump assembly operable to generate a plurality of pump wavelengths for introduction to a Raman gain medium carrying a multiple wavelength optical signal, the plurality of pump wavelengths comprising a pump spectrum having a shape, the pump assembly comprising a wavelength selector operable to select the plurality of pump wavelengths, wherein the wavelength selector tailors the shape of the pump spectrum to affect a desired shape of a gain curve for the multiple wavelength optical signal by selecting the plurality of pump wavelengths;
- wherein the pump spectrum facilitates Raman amplification of at least a portion of the multiple wavelength signal over at least a portion of the gain medium, and wherein the shape of the gain curve for the multiple wavelength signal is determined at least in part by the shape of the pump spectrum.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.