| 摘要 |
<p>A method and apparatus for coupling substantial optical power into an optical fiber from the side without encumbering ends of the fiber. A special optical fiber having a gain medium preferably including rare earth dopants in the core is provided for carrying optical information signals, and for amplifying the information signals when the gain medium is stimulated with pump light. Launch sections are selected at intervals along the special fiber with absorptive loops therebetween. The launch sections are stripped to their inner cladding layer and are positioned adjacent each other on a support block to form a launch region (48) which is upwardly convex. The support block (46) presents a low refraction index surface to the fiber. Pump light is focused by appropriate optics into a launch port (44), the launch port having a refractive index substantially matching that of the cladding layer, and being optically mated with the adjacent launch sections. The launch port guides the pump light into the launch sections in a direction generally parallel to the tangent of the launch section axes. As the pump light travels along the special fiber in the absorptive loops between the launch sections, it is significantly absorbed by the gain medium in the signal-carrying core, where it generates signal light in the core or amplifies existing signal light.</p> |
