Multi-stage optical amplifier apparatus having fiber grating with a cutoff wavelength less than the pump light wavelength

Abstract

An optical amplifier apparatus according to the invention is provided with a pumping light source that outputs pumping light for pumping first and second optical amplifying media. Therefore an input signal light is amplified by the first and second optical amplifying media mutually connected in series and a wavelength division multiplexing coupler that inputs the pumping light to both optical amplifying media and adopts configuration that an optical equalizer is arranged between the first and second optical amplifying media. Therefore, as pumping light passes the optical equalizer and pumps the two optical amplifying media by arranging the optical equalizer between both optical amplifying media, the optical amplifying medium after the optical equalizer amplifies, the loss of the optical equalizer is compensated and the optical amplification of high output is acquired. That is, as pumping light output from the pumping light source passes the fiber grating optical equalizer, the two optical amplifying media can be efficiently pumped and simultaneously, the latter optical amplifying medium compensates the loss of the optical equalizer. In addition, pumping light can be stably propagated without mode transformation when the pumping light passes the optical equalizer and a stable pumped state can be also maintained by composing the optical equalizer by a grating fiber optical equalizer having a cutoff wavelength shorter than the wavelength of the pumping light.