Patent ID: 6483634
Filing Date: 2002-11-19
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
An optical amplifier for amplifying an optical signal, which comprises:an input port for inputting the optical signal, a rare earth doped optical fiber, coupled to said input port, for amplifying the optical signal, a forward pump laser, coupled to said rare earth doped optical fiber, for providing a forward pump signal to said rare earth doped optical fiber in a co-propagating direction with respect to said optical signal, a wavelength division multiplexer, coupled between said input port and said rare earth doped optical fiber, for extracting a backward amplified spontaneous emission signal in a first wavelength band differing from a second wavelength band containing the optical signal, a gain controller for controlling a pump power of the forward pump signal based on a received power of the backward spontaneous emission signal, and an output port for outputting the amplified optical signal.