Patent ID: 8503071

Claim:
An amplifying optical fiber, comprising: a core comprising a dielectric matrix that vibrates at a given frequency (ω Raman ) under the effect of a pump signal such that an optical signal transmitted within the core is amplified by stimulated Raman scattering effect (SRS); an optical cladding surrounding the core; and one or more kinds of metallic nanostructures capable of generating a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) in the optical fiber; wherein the metallic nanostructures have a shape and a composition such that the frequency of their surface plasmon resonance (ω plasmon ) corresponds to the frequency of the pump signal (ω pump ) and/or the frequency of the optical signal transmitted in the optical fiber (ω signal ); wherein, over the length of the optical fiber, the optical fiber's cross-sectional profile with respect to nanostructure concentration is substantially uniform; wherein, for most of the metallic nanostructures, at least one of the dimensions is between about 1 nanometer and 20 nanometers; and wherein the total volume of the metallic nanostructures in the optical fiber is less than about 2 percent of the total volume of the optical fiber's entire core.