OPTICAL COMPOSITE ION/HOST CRYSTAL GAIN ELEMENTS

摘要

The present invention is an amplifier for amplifying an optical signal (12). The signal to be amplified (12) passes into and then from a first optical manipulator. The first manipulator is at least one or more collimators and/or concentrators. The amplifier includes an input pump (14) which produces pump light (15) overlapping the optical signal as the signal passes from the first manipulator. The amplifier further includes a plurality of ion-doped crystalline hosts (18) to be excited by the pump light and impinged by the signal. Finally the signal passes through a second manipulator, which is also one or more collimators and/or concentrators, and exits the amplifier.