Patent ID: 7853156

Claim:
A coherent non-differential detection system for the detection of optical communication signals by the Brillouin fiber amplification of an optical communication signal carrier, the coherent non-differential detection system comprising: a Sagnac loop comprising a single-mode fiber span, wherein the Sagnac loop is operable for receiving a modulated signal polarized in a predetermined direction, and wherein a first part of the modulated signal propagates in a clockwise direction in the Sagnac loop and a second part of the modulated signal propagates in a counter-clockwise direction in the Sagnac loop; a Brillouin amplifier coupled to the Sagnac loop, wherein the Brillouin amplifier is operable for amplifying a carrier component of one of the first part of the modulated signal and the second part of the modulated signal; and a receiver comprising a first input port and a second input port coupled to the Sagnac loop, wherein the receiver is operable for receiving the amplified carrier component of the one of the first part of the modulated signal and the second part of the modulated signal at the first input port and the amplified carrier component of the one of the first part of the modulated signal and the second part of the modulated signal plus the unamplified one of the first part of the modulated signal and the second part of the modulated signal at the second input port, and wherein the amplified carrier component of the one of the first part of the modulated signal and the second part of the modulated signal operates as a Virtual Local Oscillator.