Multi-wavelength light source

Abstract

An optical pulse train generated by an optical pulse generator and an oscillator is coupled into a polarization switcher to polarize two successive pulses perpendicular to each other. The optical pulse train is amplified by an EDFA, then entered into an SC fiber so that the optical spectrum is broadened. The optical pulse train output from the SC fiber is then directed to an optical wavelength demultiplexer for demultiplexing into components of desired wavelengths. In this case, since successive pulses are polarized perpendicular to each other, there is no need to use polarization maintaining fiber for the SC fiber and for connection optical modulator. In particular, if the polarization made dispersion of the SC fiber is sufficiently small, the SC pulses polarized perpendicular to each other will not overlap or be superimposed upon each other in time domain. Thus, the time-averaging degree of polarization can be held zero and non-polarized wideband white pulses can be obtained.