Cisco Technology, Inc.

Timothy Hart

Kevin L Sweeney

Michael R Keur

Peter Maton

An optical fiber amplifier apparatus and optical signal amplification method are provided. In one example, the amplifier apparatus comprises an optical combiner that is configured to receive an input optical signal to be amplified and a pump light beam. The optical combiner combines for output the input optical signal and the pump light beam. A first cladding pumped optical fiber in which Erbium is the only optically active dopant is coupled to the optical combiner to receive the pump light beam and the input optical signal. The first cladding pumped optical fiber pre-amplifies the input optical signal and passes the pre-amplified input optical signal and power of the pump light beam not absorbed by the first cladding pumped optical fiber. A second cladding pumped optical fiber is provided that is coupled to the first cladding pumped optical fiber. Erbium and Ytterbium are optically active dopants in the second cladding pumped optical fiber. The second cladding pumped optical fiber absorbs power of the pump light beam that was not absorbed by the first cladding pumped optical fiber to further amplify the pre-amplified input optical signal to produce an output amplified optical signal that is a desired amplified version of the input optical signal.

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Southhampton, United Kingdom

Timothy Hart