Abstract: An optical fiber including: (i) a silica based, rare earth doped core having a first index of refraction n1; and (ii) at least one silica based cladding surrounding the core and having a second index of refraction n2, such that n1>n2, said cladding having a plurality of stress rods and a plurality of air holes extending longitudinally through the length of said optical fiber; wherein said optical fiber supports a single polarization mode or poses-polarization maintaining properties within the operating wavelength range.

Abstract: An optical fiber comprising a core having a refractive index profile and a centerline; and a cladding layer surrounding and directly adjacent the core; wherein core includes updoping material and is doped with Aluminum in at least one region of the core, such that either: (a) the average longitudinal acoustic wave velocity within the core is within 0.05% of the longitudinal acoustic wave velocity within the cladding; or (b) the longitudinal acoustic wave velocity in the core changes by at least 0.2%.

Abstract: A high power laser system comprising: a master laser; and a primary slave laser oscillator including a cavity comprising a rare earth doped fiber, said primary slave laser oscillator being actively injection-locked to said master laser, wherein said cavity provides an output exceeding 1 W of optical power.

Abstract: The optical fiber comprises: (a) a core having a refractive index profile and a centerline; and (b) a cladding layer surrounding and directly adjacent the core; wherein core includes updoping material and is doped with F in at least one region of the core, such that either: (a) the average longitudinal acoustic wave velocity within the core is within 0.05% of the longitudinal acoustic wave velocity within the cladding; or (b) the longitudinal acoustic wave velocity at one region of the core is different from the longitudinal velocity at another region of the core by at least 0.2%.

Abstract: An apparatus for multiple signal amplification in a passive optical network, includes a remotely-pumped, single erbium coil positioned intermediate a central office and a split point in the network, wherein both analog and digital signals transmitted within an erbium coil amplification band from the central office and one or more subscriber premises pass through the erbium coil and are amplified prior to being split at the split point.

Abstract: A module for use in a passive optical network including a single coil of erbium and a passive optical splitter, whereby digital and analog signals pass through the module from a central office/head end and a subscriber premise, while only the analog signal passes through the single coil of erbium for signal amplification.

Abstract: An optical system comprises an optical fiber with gain producing core with an index of refraction n1, surrounded by at least one cladding with an index of refraction n2, said cladding including at least one index reduced area with an index of refraction n2, such that n1>n2>n2, the core propagating signal at a spatial fundamental mode at a signal wavelength ?1 and at a power level sufficient to generate optical power at a wavelength ?2, where ?2>?1, and the optical fiber has at least one cut-off fundamental spatial mode wavelength ?C, and ?1<?C and ?2>?C.

Abstract: An optical fiber, comprising: (i) a rare earth doped silica based elongated core with a first refractive index (n1) with an aspect ratio of 1:5 to 1; (ii) a silica based moat abutting and at least substantially surrounding the core, the moat having a refractive index n2, wherein n2<n1; (iii) a silica based inner cladding surrounding the moat, the inner cladding having a third refractive index (n3), wherein n1>n3; and n3>n2; (iv) a silica based outer cladding surrounding said inner cladding, the outer cladding having a fourth refractive index (n4), such that n4<n3; the optical fiber exhibits single polarization at the operating wavelength band.

Abstract: An optical fiber including: (i) a silica based, rare earth doped core having a first index of refraction n1; (ii) a silica based inner cladding surrounding the core and having a second index of refraction n2, such that n1>n2, said inner cladding having a plurality of air holes extending longitudinally through the length of said optical fiber; (iii) a silica based outer cladding surrounding said inner cladding and having a third index of refraction n3, such that n2>n3, wherein said optical fiber supports a single polarization mode within the operating wavelength range.

Abstract: According to one example of the invention an optical fiber comprises: (i) silica based, rare earth doped core having a first index of refraction n1; (ii) at least one silica based cladding surrounding the core and having a second index of refraction n2, such that n1>n2; wherein at least one of the core or cladding is doped with Al2O3, such that the ratio of max wt % to min wt % of Al2O3 concentration is less than 2:1

Abstract: An optical fiber comprising: (i) a silica based, rare earth doped core having a first index of refraction n1; (ii) a silica based inner cladding surrounding the core having a second index of refraction n2, such that n1>n2; (iii) a silica based outer cladding surrounding the inner cladding having a third index of refraction n3 such that n2>n3, wherein inner cladding diameter is at least 125 ?m.

Abstract: An optically active fiber (30) is disclosed for making a fiber laser (18) or an amplifier (16) for optically pumping by a broad area laser diode for operation in the 1.5 micron band. This double-clad structured active fiber (30) has a core (34), doped with an optically excitable erbium ion having a quasi-three-level transition. The core (3) has a core refractive index and a core cross-sectional area. An inner cladding (32) surrounds the core (34). The inner cladding (32) has an inner cladding refractive index less than the core refractive index, an inner cladding cross-sectional area between 2 and 25 times greater than that of the core cross-sectional area, and an aspect ratio greater than 1.5:1. An outer cladding (36) surrounds the inner cladding (32) and has an outer cladding refractive index less than the inner cladding refractive index.

Abstract: An optical amplifier comprises a trivalent thulium-doped optical fiber; a first pump light emitting device optically coupled to the fiber for generating a primary pump source at a first wavelength, and a second pump light emitting device optically coupled to the fiber for generating a secondary pump source at a second wavelength. In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the amplifier also includes a third (auxiliary) pump light emitting device optically coupled to the fiber for generating a third pump source at a third wavelength. Each of the amplification signals comprise at least one pre-selected wavelength. The first amplification signal has a wavelength pre-selected to provide a reduced noise figure for the amplifier. The second amplification signal has a wavelength pre-selected to increase the optical efficiency of the amplifier. The third amplification signal can have a wavelength pre-selected to populate the 3F4 energy level of the fiber, and to minimize depletion of the 3H6 ground state.

Abstract: An optical amplifier comprises a trivalent thulium-doped optical fiber; a first pump light emitting device optically coupled to the fiber for generating a primary pump source at a first wavelength, and a second pump light emitting device optically coupled to the fiber for generating a secondary pump source at a second wavelength. In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the amplifier also includes a third (auxiliary) pump light emitting device optically coupled to the fiber for generating a third pump source at a third wavelength. Each of the amplification signals comprise at least one pre-selected wavelength. The first amplification signal has a wavelength pre-selected to provide a reduced noise figure for the amplifier. The second amplification signal has a wavelength pre-selected to increase the optical efficiency of the amplifier. The third amplification signal can have a wavelength pre-selected to populate the 3F4 energy level of the fiber, and to minimize depletion of the 3H6 ground state.