LOW NOISE HIGH POWER OPTICAL FIBER AMPLIFIER

摘要

A rare earth doped optical fiber amplifier is pumped at a first wavelength selected to provide a low noise figure, and at a second wavelength selected to provide a high power efficiency. An erbium-doped fiber amplifier is illustrated, in which the first wavelength is about 980 nm and the second wavelength is about 1480 nm. The amplifier is forward pumped with the 980 nm wavelength adjacent the amplifier input to provide a low noise figure. Backward pumping at the 1480 nm wavelength is provided adjacent the amplifier output to achieve a high power efficiency.