Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a method which makes it possible to determine the correlation between two optical signals, which makes it possible to correlate two optical signals, without using a crystal element which is associated with a plurality of drawbacks, because the components are quite expensive. It has been found possible to replace a frequency doubling crystal by an active, optical wave guide, e.g. in the form of an active, optical fiber, said wave guide transmitting fluorescence which is intensity-related to the arrived signal. When this fluorescence is detected in spectral bands, e.g. in the blue region of the visible light, an image of the strength of the arriving signal may be formed. Current distance delaying of the two correlated signals makes it possible to produce an image of the correlation between the signals.

Abstract: An optical amplifier for signal light. The amplifier amplifies signals at a certain signal wavelength and consists of an active optical waveguide (4) of simple wave type geometry at the signal wavelength, a pump laser (2) for obtaining inverted population between the energy levels involved and coupling devices for coupling pump light and signal light in the active optical waveguide (4). The active optical waveguide is doped with ions of transition metals or metals from the groups of Lanthanides or Actinides. This doping is in a cylinder shell-shaped area (13) around the axis of symmetry of the waveguide (4) so that the reduction in the optical power originating from amplified spontaneous emission is greater than the reduction in the optical power originating from amplified signal light.