SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FRACTIONAL RAMAN ORDER PUMPING IN OPTICAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

摘要

An optical communication system includes a gain medium that is capable of receiving at least one optical signal that includes one or more optical signal wavelengths. The system also includes one or more pump sources that are capable of generating at least one pump signal for introduction to the gain medium. The pump signal includes one or more fractional Raman order pump wavelengths having a Raman gain peak that is a non-integer multiple of one stokes shift from each of the one or more optical signal wavelengths. In one particular embodiment, the pump signal interacts with the optical signal as the pump signal traverses at least a portion of the gain medium.