Patent EP0224070A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0224070A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Optical amplifier
Assignee: SDL Inc
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Filing: 1986-10-31
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-10-31
Abstract
Abstract An optical amplifier particularly suitable for use in amplifying signals carried on optical fiber in a select communication band. The amplifier comprises a resonant optical waveguide cavity which has a core containing an active gain material with given absorption and fluorescence spectrums. The gain material is of the type that preferably has at least two different emission bands originating from the same energy level with one of the emission bands encompassing the select communication band. The cavity is structured to resonate wavelengths in both emission bands, but with a higher combination of cavity Q and gain coefficient per excited ion for wavelengths in the emission band not corresponding to the select communication band so that, when pumped, the cavity first lases at this band. The lasing action causes the atomic population of the gain material corresponding to the communication band to remain at a stable constant level where it is available to uniformly amplify by stimulated emission optical signals introduced into the cavity.
Inventors
- 👤 Elias Snitzer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 20:00
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/05; H01S3/08; H01S3/081; H01S3/083; H01S3/06; H01S3/063; H01S3/067; H01S3/06754; H01S3/09; H01S3/091; H01S3/094; H01S3/094003; H01S3/10; H01S3/13; H01S3/131
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
A device for amplifying optical signals within a select communication band, said device comprising a resonant optical waveguide cavity having a core containing an active gain material with given absorption and fluorescence spectrums, said active gain material having at least two emission bands which originate from the same upper energy level with one of said emission bands encompassing said select communication band, and said cavity being structured for resonating wavelengths in both said emission bands and for providing a more favorable combination of cavity Q and gain coefficient for resonant wavelengths in said other band than for resonant wavelengths in said emission band corresponding to said select communication band such that, upon introduction into said cavity of pumping energy within said absorption band, said cavity lases at wavelengths in said other emission band and thereby retains the atomic population of said emission band corresponding to said select communication band at a value below its lasing threshold for amplification of introduced signals which are within said select communication band.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
168 words
A device for amplifying optical signals within a select communication band, said device comprising a resonant optical waveguide cavity having a core containing an active gain material with given absorption and fluorescence spectrums, said active gain material having at least two emission bands which originate from the same upper energy level with one of said emission bands encompassing said select communication band, and said cavity being structured for resonating wavelengths in both said emission bands and for providing a more favorable combination of cavity Q and gain coefficient for resonant wavelengths in said other band than for resonant wavelengths in said emission band corresponding to said select communication band such that, upon introduction into said cavity of pumping energy within said absorption band, said cavity lases at wavelengths in said other emission band and thereby retains the atomic population of said emission band corresponding to said select communication band at a value below its lasing threshold for amplification of introduced signals which are within said select communication band.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 1 further including means for introducing pumping energy into said resonant optical waveguide cavity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 1 further including means for introducing said optical signals within said select communication band into said resonant optical waveguide cavity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 1 further including means for removing amplified optical signals from said resonant optical waveguide cavity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said different emission bands of said active gain material have different levels of emission in said different emission bands.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said resonant optical waveguide cavity is a linear Fabry-Perot resonant cavity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said resonant optical waveguide cavity comprises a closed-loop resonant cavity.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
222 words
A device for amplifying optical signals within a select communication band, said device comprising: a resonant optical waveguide cavity having a core containing an active gain material with given absorption and fluorescence spectrums, said active gain material having at least two emission bands which originate from the same upper energy level with one of said emission bands encompassing said select communication band, and said cavity being structured for resonating wavelengths in both said emission bands and for providing a more favorable combination of cavity Q and gain coefficient for resonant wavelengths in said other band than for resonant wavelengths in said emission band corresponding to said select communication band; means for introducing said optical signals within said select communication band into said core of said resonant optical waveguide cavity; means for introducing pumping energy into said core of said resonant waveguide cavity within said absorption band to cause said cavity to lase at said other emission band thereby retaining the atomic population of said emission band corresponding to said select communication band at a value below its lasing threshold to amplify optical signals which have been introduced into said resonant optical waveguide cavity and which are within said select communication band; and means for removing optical signals from said core of said resonant optical waveguide cavity after they have been amplified therein.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
222 words
A device for amplifying optical signals within a select communication band, said device comprising: a resonant optical waveguide cavity having a core containing an active gain material with given absorption and fluorescence spectrums, said active gain material having at least two emission bands which originate from the same upper energy level with one of said emission bands encompassing said select communication band, and said cavity being structured for resonating wavelengths in both said emission bands and for providing a more favorable combination of cavity Q and gain coefficient for resonant wavelengths in said other band than for resonant wavelengths in said emission band corresponding to said select communication band; means for introducing said optical signals within said select communication band into said core of said resonant optical waveguide cavity; means for introducing pumping energy into said core of said resonant waveguide cavity within said absorption band to cause said cavity to lase at said other emission band thereby retaining the atomic population of said emission band corresponding to said select communication band at a value below its lasing threshold to amplify optical signals which have been introduced into said resonant optical waveguide cavity and which are within said select communication band; and means for removing optical signals from said core of said resonant optical waveguide cavity after they have been amplified therein.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 8 wherein said resonant optical waveguide cavity comprises a linear Fabry-Perot resonator having on each end thereof a dichroic mirror.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 8 wherein said active gain material comprises neodymium oxide.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 10 wherein said device is made to lase at 1.09 micrometers and to amplify at 1.35 micrometers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 10 wherein said device is made to lase at 1.35 micrometers and to amplify at 1.06 micromters.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 8 wherein said resonant optical waveguide cavity comprises a closed-loop resonant cavity.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 13 further including an element within said closed loop cavity to alter said cavity Q.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 8 wherein said resonant optical waveguide cavity comprises a length of optical fiber having dichroic mirrors on each end thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 15 wherein said means for introducing pumping energy into said resonant optical waveguide cavity comprises a laser diode butt coupled to said core.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
The device of claim 15 wherein said means for introducing optical signals into said core and said means for removing amplified optical signals from said core both comprise optical fiber laterally coupled to said resonant optical waveguide cavity.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
The device of claim 8 wherein said means for introducing optical signals into said core and said means for removing amplified signals from said core comprises a single optical fiber laterally coupled to said resonant optical waveguide cavity over a given length thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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