Patent ID: 8233214
Filing Date: 2012-07-31
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
1. An optical amplifier having an average gain coefficient, a gain tilt, a gain ripple parameter, a maximum pump power parameter, and a noise figure parameter, the optical amplifier comprising: an input port for inputting light and an output port for outputting amplified light; first and second amplifier optical fibers for amplifying light, wherein the first and the second amplifier optical fibers each have an input end and an output end; a semiconductor laser for optically pumping the first and the second amplifier optical fibers by producing a pump light in dependence upon a drive signal applied to the semiconductor laser, the optical power of said pump light being smaller than the maximum pump power parameter of the optical amplifier; a photodetector array for producing a plurality of photocurrents representative of optical power of light at the input port, at the output port, and at the input and the output ends of the first and the second amplifier optical fibers; and a planar lightwave circuit (PLC) for optically coupling together the input port, the first amplifier optical fiber, the second amplifier optical fiber, the semiconductor laser, the photodetector array, and the output port, so as to produce said plurality of photocurrents; amplify light coupled to the input port; and couple the amplified light to the output port; wherein said PLC has a top surface, a bottom surface, and a side surface encompassing said PLC, and wherein the input port, the output port, the first and the second ends of the first and the second amplifier optical fibers, and the semiconductor laser are optically coupled to the side surface, and wherein the photodetector array is optically and mechanically coupled to the side surface of said PLC.