Patent ID: 7215836

Claim:
A system for amplifying optical signals comprising: an optical fiber for carrying the optical signals; a high power broadband light source comprising an optical component configured to generate amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) having a relatively short coherence length; 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; and wherein the wavelength seed section comprises a plurality of separate wavelength seed subsections arranged in a serial configuration, and further wherein each of the wavelength seed subsections is arranged to produce ASE in a particular wavelength range.