Patent ID: 6172801
Filing Date: 2001-01-09
Classification: H01S,H04B

Abstract:
An optical amplifier having an amplifying medium for amplifying input light through use of an excitation energy of pumping light and for outputting the amplified light, said optical amplifier comprising:a pumping light source for generating the pumping light;a pumping light incident coupler which introduces the pumping light emitted from said pumping light source into one end of said amplifying medium;reflecting members which are respectively disposed on the input and output sides of said amplifying medium and are capable of reflecting light with a predetermined optical wavelength different from a signal light wavelength contained in the input light; anda branch coupler for branching an optical signal received from said amplifying medium, said branch coupler being interposed between said amplifying medium and one of said reflecting members, either that connected to the input side of said amplifying medium or that connected to the output side of said amplifying medium.