HIGH POWER, MULTI-STAGE DOPED OPTICAL AMPLIFIER

摘要

A high power optical amplifier with multiple outputs is formed by using a preamplifier stage (such as an EDFA), followed by a power splitter/WDM route r (forming the desired number of M separate optical outputs). Each preamplified/split output is then separately amplified in a high power amplifier, such as a erbium-ytterbium co-doped amplifier. The power loss associated wit h the signal splitting thus occurs prior to imparting the high power gain onto the optical signals, allowing for a plurality of high power optical outputs to b e formed.