Patent ID: 6914717

Claim:
A nonlinear polarization amplifier stage comprising: a gain medium operable to receive a multiple wavelength optical signal; a pump assembly operable to generate a plurality of pump wavelengths forming a pump spectrum comprising a plurality of peaks, the pump assembly comprising: a light source operable to generate a linearly polarized pump light; and a polarization maintaining fiber, the pump light being launched at a 45 degree angle into the polarization maintaining fiber to produce a pump signal having two polarization directions; a coupler operable to introduce at least one of the plurality of pump wavelengths to the gain medium to facilitate amplification of at least a portion of the multiple wavelength optical signal through nonlinear polarization; wherein at least a wavelength or an intensity of the at least one of the plurality of pump wavelengths is manipulated to affect the shape of a gain curve associated with the multiple wavelength optical signal in the amplifier stage.