Abstract: A parallel optical fiber amplifier having a configuration in which a C-band silica-based erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) stage and an L-band EDFA stage are coupled together in parallel in such a fashion that a reverse amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) light emitted from the C-band and/or L-band EDFA stage is reused as a secondary pumping source for an amplification in the L-band EDFA stage. In the optical fiber amplifier of the present invention, the reverse ASE light emitted from the C-band EDFA stage and the reverse ASE light emitted from the L-band EDFA stages supplied to the L-band EDFA stage so that they can be reused for improving the power conversion efficiency of the entire system and for reducing the noise factor thereof.

Abstract: A long-band optical fiber amplifier with enhanced power conversion efficiency including a first optical fiber part provided with a pumping light source, a second optical fiber part connected with the first optical fiber part, the second optical fiber part being not provided with the pumping light source, and a reuse circuit coupled between the first optical fiber part and the second optical fiber part for utilizing amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) as a secondary pumping light source from the first optical fiber part. Preferably, the reuse circuit comprises a WDM coupler connected between the first and second optical fiber parts, and a light pumping device connected with the WDM coupler to provide the pumping light source. The first and second optical fiber parts consist of erbium-doped optical fiber, and the erbium-doped optical fiber is adjusted so as to produce a gain in the L-band.