Patent ID: 6268955
Filing Date: 2001-07-31
Classification: H01S,H04B

Abstract:
An optical amplifier for batch amplifying wavelength division multiplexed signal light which includes a plurality of signal lights of different wavelengths, which comprises;a rare-earth element doped fiber doped with a rare-earth element, an excitation light source for generating excitation light for exciting said rare-earth element doped fiber, anda multiplexing section which inputs the excitation light generated by the excitation light source to said rare-earth element doped fiber, whereinthere is provided an optical filter which has a loss-wavelength characteristic that periodically changes at a predetermined spectral spacing based on a wavelength difference between adjacent gain peaks in a gain-wavelength characteristic of said rare-earth element doped fiber, with a maximum loss wavelength in said loss-wavelength characteristic being approximately coincident with one of the gain peak wavelengths where said plurality of signal lights of different wavelengths are positioned and the other of said adjacent gain peaks corresponds to a wavelength band in which noise light is generated.