Patent ID: 6907051

Claim:
A method for providing a dynamically spectrally tailored Raman pump, said Raman pump generating Raman gain for a plurality of signal wavelengths, said method comprising the steps of: driving a plurality of gain elements utilizing a plurality of current sources, each current source of said plurality of current sources driving at least one gain element of said plurality of gain elements by a variable current, wherein each of said plurality of gain elements generates a spectrally distinct output; combining outputs from said plurality of gain elements to generate said Raman pump that comprises a plurality of spectral components: providing said Raman pump to an optical medium to generate Raman gain for said plurality of signal wavelengths; determining power levels associated with said plurality of signal wavelengths; and adjusting variable currents of said plurality of current sources utilizing in part said power levels associated with said plurality of signal wavelengths wherein said adjusting causes dynamic spectral tailoring of said Raman pump.