Patent ID: 7190861

Claim:
A system for amplifying optical signals comprising: an optical fiber for carrying the optical signals; a high power broadband light source; and a connector for introducing the high power broadband light source into the optical fiber as a Raman pump so as to induce Raman amplification of the optical signals within the fiber; wherein the high power broadband light source is spectrally filtered so as to provide a desired spectral distribution for the Raman pump; wherein the spectrally filtered high power broadband light source comprises a spectrally filtered amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) generated from an optical component; wherein the optical component comprises a plurality of ASE sources having their outputs combined together so as to form a composite ASE source; wherein the optical component comprises an optical waveguide comprising a wavelength seed section for generating ASE and a power booster section for amplifying the ASE; wherein the wavelength seed section comprises a plurality of separate wavelength seed subsections arranged in a parallel configuration, further wherein each of the wavelength seed subsections is arranged to produce ASE in a particular wavelength range, and further wherein each of the wavelength seed subsections comprises an independent electrical contact so as to allow dynamic tailoring of the desired ASE spectrum generated by the wavelength seed section; and wherein the wavelength seed section is disposed between the power booster section and a high reflectance mirror, and further wherein the high reflectance mirror is configured to provide the desired ASE spectrum at the input to the power booster section.