Patent ID: 6141142
Filing Date: 2000-10-31
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
An article comprising an Er-doped fiber amplifier that is adapted for amplification of optical signal radiation in the approximate wavelength region 1565-1625 nm, the amplifier comprising a length L of Er-doped optical fiber having an input, and also comprising a coupler or couplers for coupling said optical signal radiation and a pump light into said Er-doped optical fiber;characterized in thatthe amplifier further comprises optical filter means, disposed in said length L of Er-doped optical fiber, with said optical filter means selected to provide the amplifier with a figure of merit greater than 400 dB.multidot.nm, where said figure of merit is the integral of FL(.lambda.) over the wavelength region from 1520-1565 nm, where FL(.lambda.) is the total loss at wavelength .lambda. due to said optical filter means over said length L of Er-doped optical fiber, said figure of merit to be designated ""FOM"".