Discrete hybrid SOA-Raman amplifier with broad gain bandwidth
AssigneeAT&T Corp.
InventorsPatrick P. Iannone, Kenneth C. Reichmann, Xiang Zhou
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Abstract
A discrete hybrid amplifier is disclosed for use in optical fiber systems. The amplifier uses one or more Raman laser pumps together with semiconductor optical amplifiers in series to produce a relatively level gain across the frequency range of interest. The Raman pump utilizes a length of highly non-linear fiber as the gain medium. The disclosed lower-cost hybrid amplifier is especially useful in coarse wavelength division multiplexing (CWDM) systems and in local access portions of the network.
Claims15
An amplifier system for amplifying a data-bearing optical signal within a wavelength range including at least one optical wavelength signal channel, comprising:
- an optical highly non-linear fiber (HNLF) comprising a first end for introducing the data-bearing optical signal;
- a Raman pump laser coupled to a second end of the HNLF for introducing a Raman pump signal into the HNLF;
- and
- at least one semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) coupled to the second end of the highly non-linear optical fiber for introducing a Raman-amplified signal and producing a hybrid-amplified signal;
- wherein the HNLF is a dispersion-compensating fiber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.