Abstract: An optical system comprises optical pump lasers, depolarizing filters and a multiplexer. A plurality of optical pump lasers generates a plurality of initial optical signals at different wavelengths. A plurality of depolarizing filters depolarize the plurality of initial optical signals. A multiplexer multiplexes the plurality of initial optical signals to form at least one optical pump signal. These systems and methods advantageously provide at least one optical pump signal with the required energy spread across multiple polarizations with fewer optical pump lasers. The reduction of optical pump lasers may eliminate the need to balance or adjust the power and polarization of each optical pump laser. Further, by reducing the number of optical pump lasers, the rate of component failure also reduces. As a result, these systems and methods are more reliable, may reduce maintenance costs, and may reduce the size as well as weight of the optical pumping system.

Abstract: Wavelength converter and methods are based on cross-gain modulation. The wavelength converter has two semiconductor optical amplifiers to perform double cross-gain modulations and double inversions. The first semiconductor optical amplifier performs a first cross-gain modulation on a first continuous wave light using the input light as a modulating light to generate an inverted first-stage cross-gain modulated light. The second semiconductor optical amplifier performs a second cross-gain modulation on a second continuous wave light using the first-stage cross-gain modulated light as a modulating light to generate a double-inverted output light. The output light is non-inverted with respect to the input light.

Abstract: An optical system comprises optical pump lasers, depolarizing filters and a multiplexer. A plurality of optical pump lasers generates a plurality of initial optical signals at different wavelengths. A plurality of depolarizing filters depolarize the plurality of initial optical signals. A multiplexer multiplexes the plurality of initial optical signals to form at least one optical pump signal. These systems and methods advantageously provide at least one optical pump signal with the required energy spread across multiple polarizations with fewer optical pump lasers. The reduction of optical pump lasers may eliminate the need to balance or adjust the power and polarization of each optical pump laser. Further, by reducing the number of optical pump lasers, the rate of component failure also reduces. As a result, these systems and methods are more reliable, may reduce maintenance costs, and may reduce the size as well as weight of the optical pumping system.

Abstract: Wavelength converter and methods are based on cross-gain modulation. The wavelength converter has two semiconductor optical amplifiers to perform double cross-gain modulations and double inversions. The first semiconductor optical amplifier performs a first cross-gain modulation on a first continuous wave light using the input light as a modulating light to generate an inverted first-stage cross-gain modulated light. The second semiconductor optical amplifier performs a second cross-gain modulation on a second continuous wave light using the first-stage cross-gain modulated light as a modulating light to generate a double-inverted output light. The output light is non-inverted with respect to the input light.

Abstract: These systems and methods advantageously provide redundant optical pumping for an amplification system thereby providing safeguards for optical communications. A plurality of optical pump lasers generate a plurality of initial optical signals. A plurality of splitters split the initial optical signals generated from at least one of the optical pump lasers to form split optical signals. A plurality of couplers couple the split optical signals from one of the optical pump lasers with another one of the split optical signals from another of the optical pump lasers to form a plurality of pump optical signals from a plurality of redundant optical paths. By coupling pump optical signals from a plurality of optical pump lasers over redundant optical paths, there is no single point of failure. As a result, failure in any single component or optical path will not damage or degrade the optical amplifier.

Abstract: An all-optical 3R regenerator (AO3R) and a method for using the AO3R to retime, reshape and retransmit an optical signal are described herein. The AO3R includes a polarizer that receives an input optical signal which is of unknown, potentially varying phase and outputs a stable polarized input optical signal. The AO3R also includes a first interferometer (e.g., interferometric converter module) that retimes and reshapes the polarized input optical signal and transmits the retimed and reshaped polarized input optical signal as a polarized output optical signal. The first interferometer is able to retime the polarized input optical signal with the aid of a laser and a clock recovery mechanism.

Abstract: An all-optical 3R regenerator (AO3R) and a method for using the AO3R to retime, reshape and retransmit an optical signal are described herein. The AO3R includes a polarizer that receives an input optical signal which is of unknown, potentially varying phase and outputs a stable polarized input optical signal. The AO3R also includes a first interferometer (e.g., interferometric converter module) that retimes and reshapes the polarized input optical signal and transmits the retimed and reshaped polarized input optical signal as a polarized output optical signal. The first interferometer is able to retime the polarized input optical signal with the aid of a laser and a clock recovery mechanism.