Claims
- 1. An optical amplifier system for amplifying an optical signal at a signal wavelength, comprising:
at least one first pump source to provide first pump light at a first wavelength; a first optical fiber having a first active material for generating second pump light at a second wavelength and including a lasing resonator between spatially disposed reflectors forming a second pump laser source, the second pump source optically coupled to receive the first pump light from the first pump source, the first optical fiber absorptive of the first pump light and providing gain to the second pump light; and a second optical fiber having a second active material forming a fiber amplifier at the signal wavelength, the second optical fiber optically coupled within the lasing resonator of the second pump laser source to launch the second pump light into the second optical fiber, the second optical fiber absorptive of the second pump light and providing gain to the signal wavelength.
- 2. The optical amplifier system of claim 1 further comprising a first pump source at each end of the second pump laser source.
- 3. The optical amplifier system of claim 1 wherein the second optical fiber comprises a double clad fiber having a core doped with a rare earth material through which the signal wavelength to be amplified propagates, and an inner cladding surrounding the core for receiving the second pump light via the second pump laser source.
- 4. The optical fiber amplifier of claim 1 wherein the reflectors comprise fiber Bragg gratings reflective of the second pump light.
- 5. The optical fiber amplifier of claim 1 further comprising a second lasing resonator in said second optical fiber so that the fiber amplifier functions as a fiber laser.
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of patent application Ser. No. 08/970,493 filed Nov. 14, 1997.
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
08970493 |
Nov 1997 |
US |
Child |
09386940 |
Aug 1999 |
US |