Optical amplifying apparatus which routes pumping light to a raman amplification medium and a rare-earth-doped optical amplification medium

Abstract

An optical amplifying apparatus has a plurality of pumping sources generating pumping light beams at different wavelengths, a Raman amplification medium receiving the pumping light beams from the pumping sources to amplify a main signal light beam by using stimulated Raman scattering phenomenon due to the pumping light beams, a rare-earth-doped optical amplification medium receiving the main signal light beam amplified by the Raman amplification medium to further amplify it, and a pumping light introducing means introducing a part or all of a pumping light beam at a specific wavelength of the pumping light beams as a pumping light beam for the rare-earth-doped optical amplification medium to the rare-earth-doped optical amplification medium. The optical amplifying apparatus in a smaller size and with less fluctuation in the optical output power can readily send monitoring control information irrespective of presence of the optical input power.