Patent ID: 6980357

Claim:
An optical amplifier ( 200 / 600 ) for amplifying an optical input signal ( 208 / 608 ), comprising: a first optical coupler ( 206 / 606 ), for splitting the optical input signal ( 208 / 608 ) into a first optical signal ( 210 / 610 ) and a second optical signal ( 212 / 612 ); a first amplifier section ( 202 / 602 ) responsive to receive the first optical signal ( 210 / 610 ), the first amplifier section ( 202 / 602 ) comprising: a first rare earth doped optical fiber ( 220 / 620 ) for generating a first optical output power ( 230 / 630 ); a first pump source ( 222 / 622 ); and a second pump source ( 224 / 624 ), the first and second pump sources for supplying a first energy amount, in a common wavelength band, to the first rare earth doped optical fiber ( 220 / 620 ); and a second amplifier section ( 204 / 604 ) responsive to receive the second optical signal ( 212 / 612 ), the second amplifier ( 204 / 604 ) section arranged in parallel to, and under common control with, the first amplifier section ( 202 / 602 ), the second amplifier section ( 204 / 604 ) comprising: a second rare earth doped optical fiber ( 240 / 640 ) for generating a second optical output power ( 250 / 650 ); a third pump source ( 232 / 632 ); and a fourth pump source ( 234 / 634 ), the third and fourth pump sources for supplying a second energy amount, in the common wavelength band, to the second rare earth doped optical fiber ( 240 / 640 ), a total power ( 280 / 680 ) of the first optical output power ( 230 / 630 ) and the second optical output power ( 250 / 650 ) at least about 600 mill Watts.