Patent ID: 6721089
Filing Date: 2004-04-13
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
An optical amplifier, comprising:a gain media exhibiting gain latency and receiving an input optical signal; an optical pump optically coupled to said gain media, said optical pump supplying pumping light to said gain media, said pumping light having at least one wavelength sufficient to induce gain in the input optical signal; a current source operatively connected to said optical pump, said current source providing a drive current to said optical pump; a switch interposed between said current source and said optical pump; a modulator operatively connected to said switch; said modulator generating modulated signals having a duty cycle and supplying the modulated signals to said switch, said switch actuating in response to the modulated signal such that said switch repeatedly turns the drive current â€œonâ€  and â€œoffâ€ , and wherein the gain latency permits a substantially continuous signal to be output from the optical amplifier in response to said switch actuating.