Corning Incorporated

Shou-Jong Sheih

Richard J Cereo

Thomas W McNamara

David O Culverhouse

Techniques for controlling the shape of the gain spectrum of an optical amplifier (,) based on the temperature and level of inversion of the amplifier's amplifying medium (,) are provided. An increase in temperature for an amplifying medium having a high level of inversion results in an increase in gain for longer wavelengths relative to shorter wavelengths, i.e., a counterclockwise tilt of the gain spectrum, while an increase in temperature for an amplifying medium having a lower level of inversion results in the opposite effect, i.e., a clockwise tilt. These effects can be used to compensate for changes in the operating conditions of the amplifier, e.g., to compensate for changes in signal powers. The effects of thermal tuning are especially useful in WDM systems employing multi-stage amplifiers.

Thermal tuning of optical amplifiers and use of same in wavelength division multiplexed systems

An apparatus and method for amplifying an optical transmission signal having a wavelength of &lgr;,in an optical fiber amplifier. The amplification segment of the optical fiber amplifier comprises a rare earth doped optical fiber having an input end and an output end, a first pump laser for generating a first pump light having a wavelength of &lgr;,, a second pump laser for generating a second pump light having a wavelength of &lgr;,, a first multiplexer having a first input port, a second input port, and an output port, a second multiplexer having a first input port, a second input port, and an output port, and a multiplexer/demultiplexer having two input ports and two output ports. The optical fiber amplifier utilizes the first pump light and the second pump light, each having substantially different wavelengths to simultaneously co-pump power into the input end of the rare earth doped optical fiber amplifier. Both the first pump light and the second pump light are propagated in the same direction as the optical transmission signal and into the input end of the rare earth doped optical fiber amplifier.

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Red Bank, NJ, United States of America

Shou-Jong Sheih