Cross-talk free, low-noise optical amplifier
Abstract
A low-noise optical amplifier solves crosstalk problems in optical amplifiers by using an optical cavity oriented off-axis (e.g. perpendicular) to the direction of a signal amplified by the gain medium of the optical amplifier. Several devices are used to suppress parasitic lasing of these types of structures. The parasitic lasing causes the gain of these structures to be practically unusable. The lasing cavity is operated above threshold and the gain of the laser is clamped to overcome the losses of the cavity. Any increase in pumping causes the lasing power to increase. The clamping action of the gain greatly reduces crosstalk due to gain saturation for the amplified signal beam. It also reduces other nonlinearities associated with the gain medium such as four-wave mixing induced crosstalk. This clamping action can occur for a bandwidth defined by the speed of the laser cavity. The lasing field also reduces the response time of the gain medium. By having the lasing field off-axis, no special coatings are needed. Other advantages are that the lasing field is easily separated from the amplified signal and the carrier grating fluctuations induced by four-wave mixing are decreased. Two related methods reduce the amplified spontaneous emission power withoutmore »
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- University of California
- OSTI Identifier:
- 87759
- Patent Number(s):
- 5,436,759
- Application Number:
- PAN: 8-260,275
- Assignee:
- Univ. of California, Oakland, CA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 25 Jul 1995
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 42 ENGINEERING NOT INCLUDED IN OTHER CATEGORIES; LASERS; AMPLIFICATION; DESIGN; OPTICAL SYSTEMS; LASER CAVITIES; LASER RADIATION; FREQUENCY MIXING
Citation Formats
Dijaili, S P, Patterson, F G, and Deri, R J. Cross-talk free, low-noise optical amplifier. United States: N. p., 1995.
Web.
Dijaili, S P, Patterson, F G, & Deri, R J. Cross-talk free, low-noise optical amplifier. United States.
Dijaili, S P, Patterson, F G, and Deri, R J. Tue .
"Cross-talk free, low-noise optical amplifier". United States.
@article{osti_87759,
title = {Cross-talk free, low-noise optical amplifier},
author = {Dijaili, S P and Patterson, F G and Deri, R J},
abstractNote = {A low-noise optical amplifier solves crosstalk problems in optical amplifiers by using an optical cavity oriented off-axis (e.g. perpendicular) to the direction of a signal amplified by the gain medium of the optical amplifier. Several devices are used to suppress parasitic lasing of these types of structures. The parasitic lasing causes the gain of these structures to be practically unusable. The lasing cavity is operated above threshold and the gain of the laser is clamped to overcome the losses of the cavity. Any increase in pumping causes the lasing power to increase. The clamping action of the gain greatly reduces crosstalk due to gain saturation for the amplified signal beam. It also reduces other nonlinearities associated with the gain medium such as four-wave mixing induced crosstalk. This clamping action can occur for a bandwidth defined by the speed of the laser cavity. The lasing field also reduces the response time of the gain medium. By having the lasing field off-axis, no special coatings are needed. Other advantages are that the lasing field is easily separated from the amplified signal and the carrier grating fluctuations induced by four-wave mixing are decreased. Two related methods reduce the amplified spontaneous emission power without sacrificing the gain of the optical amplifier. 11 figs.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1995},
month = {7}
}