Patent ID: 8767286
Filing Date: 2014-07-01
Classification: G02B,H01S

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: providing a first fiber section having a first core having a first core diameter, a mode-field adaptor optically coupled to the first fiber section, and a second fiber section having a second core having a second core diameter that is larger than the first core diameter, wherein the second fiber section is optically coupled to the mode-field adaptor, and wherein the second fiber section includes an inner cladding layer surrounding the second core and a second cladding layer surrounding the inner cladding layer; combining an optical seed signal and core pump light into the first core; expanding and matching a lateral spatial mode of the combined seed signal and core pump light to a mode of the second core, and guiding the expanded combined seed signal and core pump light into the second core; guiding cladding pump light into the inner cladding layer of the second fiber section; and optically amplifying the seed signal using energy from both the core pump light and energy from the cladding pump light.