Abstract: The present invention relates to a hybrid component and method capable of simultaneously combining and depolarizing two pump laser diodes of different wavelengths with linear polarized output. The beam combiner is a Wellstone prism which is used to combine two linear-polarized pumping beams, and the depolarizer has three different embodiments: a single stage high birefringent waveplate; two stages high birefringent waveplates; a quarter waveplate or a three-quarter waveplate plus a single stage high birefringent waveplate. The Polarization Beam Combiner (PBC) and the depolarizer are integrated into one single hybrid component, in which two orthogonal pumping lights with different wavelengths are combined and depolarized simultaneously. Therefore, the hybrid component and method makes it simpler and cheaper to design a Raman amplifier and will propel Raman amplifier market penetration in optical communication systems.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hybrid component and method capable of simultaneously combining and depolarizing two pump laser diodes of different wavelengths with linear polarized output. The beam combiner is a Wellstone prism which is used to combine two linear-polarized pumping beams, and the depolarizer has three different embodiments: a single stage high birefringent waveplate; two stages high birefringent waveplates; a quarter waveplate or a three-quarter waveplate plus a single stage high birefringent waveplate. The Polarization Beam Combiner (PBC) and the depolarizer are integrated into one single hybrid component, in which two orthogonal pumping lights with different wavelengths are combined and depolarized simultaneously. Therefore, the hybrid component and method makes it simpler and cheaper to design a Raman amplifier and will propel Raman amplifier market penetration in optical communication systems.