Multi-fibre arrangements for high power fibre lasers and amplifiers

A method for reducing the granularity in optical telecommunications network, comprising providing an amplifying optical arrangement in at least one location within the network, and wherein the amplifying optical arrangement comprises:

• a pump source supplying pump energy;
• an optical fibre arrangement comprising at least two optical fibre sections, the optical fibre sections each defining an outside longitudinally extending surface, and wherein the outside longitudinally extending surfaces are in optical contact with each other, and further wherein the optical fibre sections each include an amplifying fibre and a pump optical fibre having two ends, and wherein the pump energy is coupled into the pump optical fibres from the pump source;
• each optical fibre section further comprises an input fibre and a first multiplexer connected to the input fibre, and wherein the amplifying optical fibre is connected to the first multiplexer;
• and
• the amplifying optical arrangement further comprises a second multiplexer connected to each of the first multiplexers.

An optical telecommunications network comprising at least one amplifying optical arrangement and wherein the amplifying optical arrangement comprises:

• a pump source supplying pump energy;
• an optical fibre arrangement comprising at least two optical fibre sections, the optical fibre sections each defining an outside longitudinally extending surface, and wherein the outside longitudinally extending surfaces are in optical contact with each other, and further wherein the optical fibre sections each include an amplifying fibre and a pump optical fibre having two ends, and wherein the pump energy is coupled into the pump optical fibres from the pump source;
• each optical fibre section further comprises an input fibre and a first multiplexer connected to the input fibre, and wherein the amplifying optical fibre is connected to the first multiplexer;
• and
• the amplifying optical arrangement further comprises a second multiplexer connected to each of the first multiplexers.

An amplifier comprising;

• a pump source supplying pump energy;
• an optical fibre arrangement comprising at least two optical fibre sections, the optical fibre sections each defining an outside longitudinally extending surface, and wherein the outside longitudinally extending surfaces are in optical contact with each other, and further wherein the optical fibre sections include at least one amplifying fibre and at least one pump optical fibre having two ends, the amplifier being configured such that the pump energy is coupled into the pump optical fibre from the pump source;
• and
• wherein at least one of the optical fibre sections is configured to be separable from the other optical fibre section by pulling the at least one optical fibre section from the other optical fibre section.

An amplifying arrangement comprising a plurality of amplifiers, each said amplifier comprising:

• a pump source supplying pump energy;
• and
• an optical fibre arrangement comprising at least two optical fibre sections, the optical fibre sections each defining an outside longitudinally extending surface, and wherein the outside longitudinally extending surfaces are in optical contact with each other, and further wherein the optical fibre sections Include at least one amplifying fibre and at least one pump optical fibre having two ends, the amplifier being configured such that the pump energy is coupled into the pump optical fibre from the pump source;
• and
• an input fibre and a first multiplexer connected to the input fibre, wherein the at least one amplifying optical fibre is connected to the first multiplexer;
• and
• the amplifying arrangement further comprises a second multiplexer connected to each of the first multiplexers.

A parallel optical amplifier comprising a plurality of amplifying optical fibres and a pump source for supplying pump energy, and wherein;

• the pump energy is shared by the plurality of amplifying optical fibres;
• at least one amplifying optical fibre is in optical contact with at least one other amplifying optical fibre;
• and
• at least one of the amplifying optical fibres is configured to be separable from the other amplifying optical fibre where the amplifying optical fibres are in optical contact by pulling the at least one amplifying optical fibre from the other amplifying optical fibre.

An optical telecommunication network comprising at least one parallel optical amplifier, and wherein the parallel optical amplifier comprises a plurality of amplifying optical fibres and a pump source for supplying pump energy, and further wherein;

• the pump energy is shared by the plurality of amplifying optical fibres;
• at least one amplifying optical fibre is in optical contact with at least one other amplifying optical fibre;
• and
• at least one of the amplifying optical fibres is configured to be separable from the other amplifying optical fibre where the amplifying optical fibres are in optical contact by pulling the at least one amplifying optical fibre from the other amplifying optical fibre.