Optical Source with Remote Optical Head Outputting High Power Short Optical Pulses

摘要

An optical source can include a remote optical head for outputting high power short optical pulses. The optical source can include signal source operable to output short optical pulses; an optical pump light source; an optical head provided at a location remote from the location of the optical signal source; and an optical fibre amplifier having at least its optical output located within the optical head. The source can also include an optical signal delivery fibre arranged to deliver optical pulses from the optical signal source to the optical fibre amplifier and a pump light delivery fibre arranged to deliver optical pump light to the high power optical fibre amplifier. In use short optical pulses of a first optical power are delivered to the optical fibre amplifier and are amplified therein to a higher optical power for output from the optical head