Abstract: Systems and methods for ameliorating double Rayleigh backscattering induced impairments are provided. Raman amplification is divided among two or more stages. Optical energy from a single counter-propagating pump may traverse multiple stages while optical energy at the frequency of the signal to be amplified is permitted to propagate in the forward direction only. In this way the pump power can be effectively distributed over the entire amplifier length. The scheme may be implemented in a simple configuration employing a closed circulator and a fiber Bragg grating. Multiple wavelength pump operation may be accommodated as well as either discrete or distributed Raman amplification.

Abstract: Soliton or soliton-like optical pulses with characteristics adapted to propagation in an optical line for RZ type transmission are generated by modulating a continuous optical signal (1) by means of a modulator (2) which is substantially devoid of chirping, in which the modulator drive signal comprises at least one frequency (4) and one harmonic (5) thereof superimposed on each other (7).

Abstract: An amplification architecture for WDM receiver systems. The WDM channel grid is divided into groups of adjacent channels. A separate optical amplifier is provided for each channel with a single pump being shared among the channels of each group. The gain experienced by channels of a given group may be adjusted by varying the power of the group's pump. This approach allows equalization of received channel power such that all channels fall within the desired dynamic range. The amplification architecture may be implemented in a space-efficient manner at low cost.

Abstract: A method for adding at least one added signal to, and dropping at least one dropped signal from at least one of a first transmission path and a second transmission path, the method including (i) creating a first series of signals and a second series of signals, the signals having distinct wavelengths, the first series and the second series being mutually staggered in wavelength, (ii) transmitting the first series to the first transmission path and the second series to the second transmission path, and, (iii) providing a wavelength selective switch along at least one of the first transmission path and the second transmission path, the wavelength selective switch for adding the at least one added signal and dropping the at least one dropped signal.

Abstract: Device for adding/dropping optical signals into/from an optical transmission path, including input means for at least two optical signals with distinct wavelengths, comprising spectral selection means for sending at least a first signal to a first optical path and at least a second signal to a second optical path, at least a wavelength selective switching means along at least one of said first and second optical paths, for adding and dropping at least one optical signal having a predetermined wavelength selected from the optical signal wavelengths.

Abstract: A multi-channel optical telecommunication system and method for transmitting optical signals having distinct wavelengths. Spectral selection is provided for the optical signals to add or drop signals of predetermined wavelengths. The signals are divided into at least two series of different wavelengths. The signals of each series are dropped or signals of corresponding wavelengths are added, and the signals are then combined.

Abstract: Optical telecommunications system, comprising: a transmitting station capable of emitting an optical signal having a power of between 18 and 30 dBm; an optical fibre transmission line capable of transmitting the said optical signal, comprising dispersion shifted fibre with a length of between 100 km and 1000 km; an optical receiving station, capable of receiving the said optical signal; which comprises, between the said transmission line and the said optical receiver, a chromatic dispersion compensator. Preferably the said optical fibre transmission line has a length of between 200 and 400 km.

Abstract: An optical telecommunication system has at least two sources of optical modulated signals at different wavelengths in a predetermined transmission wavelength band, together with a multiplexer for the signals, an optical fibre line connected at one end to the multiplexer, and a demultiplexer/receiver for the signals. The line comprises an optical fibre having a chromatic dispersion value lower than a predetermined value in the transmission wavelength band and increasing as wavelength increases. The fibre also has a zero value of chromatic dispersion at a wavelength lower than the minimum wavelength of the transmission wavelength band by such an amount that no local wavelength zero value of the chromatic dispersion present in the fibre and capable of generating a four-wave-mixing phenomenon is included in the band.

Abstract: A method of selectively compensating for the chromatic dispersion of optical signals in an optical telecommunication network, comprising the steps of transmitting at least two signals over a common portion of said network, separating at least one of the signals from the remaining signals at at least one point of the network, compensating for the chromatic dispersion of this signal and recombining said signal with the remaining signals at said one point of the network. Preferably this method further comprises the steps of detecting the chromatic dispersion of each of the signals at at least one point of the network, identifying, among the signals, the signals to be compensated, for which the detected dispersion value does not fall within a range of predetermined values and compensating for the dispersion of said signals so as to make them fall within this range of predetermined values.

Abstract: An optical telecommunication system has at least two sources of optical modulated signals at different wavelengths in a predetermined transmission wavelength band, together with a multiplexer for the signals, an optical fiber line connected at one end to the multiplexer, and a demultiplexer/receiver for the signals. The line comprises an optical fiber having a chromatic dispersion value lower than a predetermined value in the transmission wavelength band and increasing as wavelength increases. The fiber also has a zero value of chromatic dispersion at a wavelength lower than the minimum wavelength of the transmission wavelength band by such an amount that no local wavelength zero value of the chromatic dispersion present in the fiber and capable of generating a four-wave-mixing phenomenon is included in the band.

Abstract: An optical fiber power amplifier, particularly for telecommunication lines with optical fibers, including an active fiber doped with Erbium as a fluorescing substance, and with Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 as refraction index modifying dopant. The fiber is pumped with a laser providing a wavelength higher than 520 nm and preferably, 980 nm. The amplifier has a particularly high amplification efficiency close to the theoretical maximum efficiency.

Abstract: An optical signal generator for telecommunication systems, comprising at least a single-frequency active optical fiber laser as an optical signal source at a signal transmission wavelength, at least an active optical fiber optical amplifier operatively connected to said laser and at least one source of pumping optical power at a pumping wavelength, the pumping optical power source being operatively connected to at least one of said active fibers of said laser and amplifier and transfer-means for said pumping optical power being connected to said active fibers of said laser and amplifier, in order to transfer unabsorbed optical power at the pumping wavelength from one of said active fibers to the other of said active fibers.

Abstract: The telecommunication line comprises at least one terminal station having an optical-signal transmitter and an optical-signal receiver, which are operationally connected by an automatic protection device suitable for shutting down said transmitter in the absence of a received optical signal, at least one opticalfibre line for the transmission of the optical signals transmitted by said transmitter and received by said receiver, and at least one optical amplifier included in said line. With said optical amplifier there are associated means for the detection of the presence of light energy at input and means for causing the shut down of the amplifier, which in the absence of light energy at input are caused by said detection means to interrupt substantially any emission of light energy on the part of said optical amplifier.

Abstract: An optical fiber telecommunications system having two terminals interconnected by optical fibers and active-fiber optical amplifiers. Each terminal has an optical telecommunication signal transmitter associated with an optical signal receiver which are interconnected by a protective device which causes the transmitter to be inoperative when its associated receiver does not receive an optical signal. Optical switches are provided at the downstream sides of active-fiber optical amplifiers and are controlled by detecting devices coupled to amplifier outputs, each of which detecting devices opens the associated switch in the absence of a signal having the characteristics, e.g. an alternating component, of the optical telecommunication signal whereby the protective devices are operated.

Abstract: Adapters for interconnecting optical fiber lines, including optical amplifiers, with optical transmitters and receivers in which the operating parameters of the optical amplifiers are different from the operating parameters of the transmitters and receivers. The adapters convert the optical signals from a transmitter to those within the operating parameters of the optical amplifier and convert the optical signals from an optical amplifier to those within the operating parameters of the receiver. The adapter receiving the optical signals from the transmitter also has provision for inserting service signals and the adapter receiving signals from an optical amplifier has provision for separating the optical signals from the service signals. Also, switching devices for changing transmitters and/or receivers or lines in the event of component failures.

Abstract: An optical fiber and an optical amplifier, in particular for optical fiber telecommunication lines operating with a transmission signal in a predetermined wavelength range. The amplifier comprises laser emitting active optical fiber doped with erbium and a further doping substance, distributed along the fiber. The further doping substance has an absorption for a light having a wavelength lower than 1,540 nm substantially higher than the absorption that the further doping substance shows for a light having a wavelength varying from 1,540 nm to the upper limit of the predetermined wavelength range of the transmission signal. Preferably, the further doping substance is samarium.

Abstract: The optical amplifier (1) comprises two amplifying stages, an upstream amplifying stage (S.sub.M) and a downstream amplifying stage (S.sub.V). The former stage comprises an upstream active fiber (9) doped with a fluorescent dopant and connected serially to the optical fiber line (2), an upstream optical coupler (10) connected serially downstream from the upstream section of active fiber (9), a laser diode (11) for supplying pumping energy towards the upstream active fiber (9) through the coupler (10), said coupler being oriented to cause pump energy travel towards said upstream active fiber (9) in the opposite direction from the predetermined signal direction (S); the latter stage (S.sub.

Abstract: An optical amplifier for telecommunication lines over which communication signals at a predetermined wavelength are transmitted. The amplifier has portions of two optically coupled fibers, at least one of the fibers being an active fiber, interconnected by a length of active fiber connected to the one fiber of successive portions. Preferably, the active fibers are doped with erbium, and the coupling wavelength of the two fibers is different from the communication signal wavelength so that energy of the spontaneous emission of erbium is transferred from the one fiber to the other fiber and absorbed in the latter permitting amplification of communication signals in a range of wavelengths corresponding to the tolerance range of commercial laser signal emitters.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical amplifier, in particular for optical fiber telecommunication lines (1), operating with a transmission signal in a predetermined wavelength range, which amplifier comprises a fluorescent active optical fiber (6) doped with erbium, having two cores (11 and 12, 101 and 102), one (11, 101) of which is connected to a fiber (4) in which a transmission signal to be amplified and a luminous pumping energy are multiplexed, and to an outgoing fiber adapted to transmit the amplified signal, whereas the second core (12, 102) is optically coupled to the first core and is capable of absorbing the spontaneous erbium emission which would constitute a noise source, allowing a signal to be amplified in a wavelength range substantially corresponding to the tolerance range of the commercially available signal laser emitters.

Abstract: A unit for amplifying light signals in optical fiber transmission lines includes a fiber optical amplifier to which light signals are transmitted through an input optical fiber line, and from which the signals, after having been amplified, are introduced into an output optical fiber line. First and second optical insulators are interposed between the fiber optical amplifier and the input and output lines to prevent the transmission of optical noise signals from the input and output lines, respectively, to the amplifier.