Onetta, Inc.

James W Sulhoff

Chia-Chi Wang

Paul Francis Wysocki

James Patrick Koonmen

Yongan Wu

Optical amplifiers and optical network equipment are provided that have optical gain stages for amplifying optical signals on a fiber-optic communications link. The optical gain stages may be based on optically pumped fiber such as rare-earth-doped fiber. The fiber may be optically pumped using laser diode pumps. A control unit may be provided in the amplifiers or other equipment to control the laser diode pumps. Optical monitors may be used to measure the optical signals in the amplifiers or other equipment. The pump powers of the laser diode pumps may be adjusted in real time by the control unit based on the measured optical signals to suppress gain transients due to input power fluctuations on the link. To minimize the impact of pump-induced noise, the control unit may avoid operating the laser diodes at powers at which the laser diodes are most susceptible to mode partition noise.

Optical amplifiers with stable output power under low input power conditions

Optical amplifiers and methods for manufacturing optical amplifiers are provided that allow amplifiers to be fabricated to match design expectations. Optical amplifiers may be manufactured by assembling passive optical components in the amplifier before assembling active optical components such as doped fiber coils. Passive losses may then be characterized and used to calculate the lengths of the fibers that should be used in the amplifier gain stages. Following corrections to the nominal doped-fiber lengths based on the measured passive losses, the passive and active components of the amplifier may be assembled and characterized. Final corrections may be made to the amplifier assembly based on these characterizations. For example, the lengths of one or more of the doped fibers may be adjusted. If desired, such length adjustments may be made to fiber coils in the mid-stage portion of the amplifier, so that the impact on the operating characteristics of the amplifier are minimized.

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Los Gatos, CA, United States of America

James W Sulhoff