Abstract: A communication method includes combining first and second optical signals into a third optical signal, processing the third optical signal, and separating the third optical signal back into the first and second optical signals. The method includes sending the first optical signal out a first system port, sending the second optical signal out a second system port, receiving a fourth optical signal in the first system port, and receiving a fifth optical signal in the second system port. The method also includes combining the fourth and fifth optical signals into a sixth optical signal, processing the sixth optical signal, and separating the sixth optical signal back into the fourth and fifth optical signals.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for optical communications. One optical amplifier includes an input port; a bar-cross switch optically coupled to the input port; a first gain stage optically coupled between first port of the bar-cross switch and to an output port; and a secondary gain stage optically coupled between a second port and a third port of the bar-cross switch, wherein in a bar-state of the bar-cross switch the secondary gain stage is bypassed and in a cross-state, the secondary gain stage and the first gain stage are applied to an input light beam.

Abstract: A communication system includes a first optical system and a second optical system optically connected to a clamping laser and a pump laser. The first optical system includes first and second optical splitters. The first optical splitter is configured to receive a clamping laser signal from the clamping laser and split the signal into split clamping laser signals. The second optical splitter is configured to receive a pump laser signal from the pump laser and split signal into split pump laser signals. The second optical system is optically connected to the first optical system and includes amplifier systems. Each amplifier system is configured to receive a multiplexed signal. The second optical system includes first and second combiners optically connected to an erbium-doped fiber. The first combiner is optically connected to the first splitter, and the second combiner is optically connected to the second splitter.

Abstract: A communication system includes a first optical system and a second optical system optically connected to a clamping laser and a pump laser. The first optical system includes first and second optical splitters. The first optical splitter is configured to receive a clamping laser signal from the clamping laser and split the signal into split clamping laser signals. The second optical splitter is configured to receive a pump laser signal from the pump laser and split signal into split pump laser signals. The second optical system is optically connected to the first optical system and includes amplifier systems. Each amplifier system is configured to receive a multiplexed signal. The second optical system includes first and second combiners optically connected to an erbium-doped fiber. The first combiner is optically connected to the first splitter, and the second combiner is optically connected to the second splitter.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a first optical signal at a first communication terminal from a second communication terminal through a free space optical link and determining a receiving power for the optical link based on the first optical signal. The method further includes adjusting an output amplification at the first communication terminal based on the receiving power for the optical link. The output amplification is adjusted to provide a second optical signal with a minimum transmission power for maintaining the optical link. The method transmits the second optical signal from the first communication terminal to the second communication terminal through the optical link.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for optical communications. One optical amplifier includes an input port; a bar-cross switch optically coupled to the input port; a first gain stage optically coupled between first port of the bar-cross switch and to an output port; and a secondary gain stage optically coupled between a second port and a third port of the bar-cross switch, wherein in a bar-state of the bar-cross switch the secondary gain stage is bypassed and in a cross-state, the secondary gain stage and the first gain stage are applied to an input light beam.

Abstract: An optical amplifier includes an optical feedback resonant laser cavity (OFRC) including a power dependent loss element (PDLE) having the characteristic that as the incident laser power on the PDLE increases the cavity loss decreases. The OFRC with the PDLE provides optical gain control or optical power control for a WDM amplifier or a single channel power equalization amplifier (PEA), respectively. A 1×N×N WADM node incorporating more than one of these amplifiers, at least some of which commonly share a pump source, and a method for controlling a transient power change in a single channel optical amplifier or reducing a DC gain error in a WDM optical amplifier that are subject to dynamically variable operating conditions at an input of the amplifier, are also disclosed.