Patent ID: 6654162
Filing Date: 2003-11-25
Classification: H01S,H04B

Abstract:
A multispectral light source for a Raman amplifier, comprising:a pump configured to provide pump light to an optical fiber while a wavelength division multiplex, WDM, optical signal, with a signal bandwidth of at least 20 nm, propagates though the optical fiber, the pump includes a first light source configured to produce light so as to create a corresponding first gain profile having a peak gain at a first wavelength, and a second light source configured to produce light so as to create a corresponding second gain profile having a peak gain at a second wavelength, wherein a composite gain profile created from a combination of the first gain profile and the second gain profile has an amplification bandwidth that is at least as great as the 20 nm signal bandwidth and overlaps said signal bandwidth so as to provide Raman gain to said WDM optical signal, said second wavelength being at a longer wavelength than the first wavelength, and said optical fiber to which said pump light is provided is not an Erbium doped fiber of an EDFA.