Abstract: A laser diode pump includes a plurality of laser diodes each capable of generating a lasing wavelength. The laser diode pump further includes at least one wavelength combiner operable to combine the plurality of lasing wavelengths generated by the plurality of laser diodes into a multiple wavelength pump signal. In one particular embodiment, at least two of the plurality of lasing wavelengths generated by the plurality of laser diodes comprise a wavelength between 1270 nm and 1350 nm.

Abstract: A multi-stage Raman amplifier includes a first Raman amplifier stage having a first sloped gain profile operable to amplify a plurality of signal wavelengths, and a second Raman amplifier stage having a second sloped gain profile operable to amplify at least most of the plurality of signal wavelengths after those wavelengths have been amplified by the first stage. The second sloped gain profile is approximately complementary slope to the slope of the first sloped gain profile. The combined effect of the first and second Raman stages contributes to an approximately flat overall gain profile over the plurality of signal wavelengths.

Abstract: A pump assembly includes a pump source operable to generate at least one pump signal operable to pump a Raman gain medium of a Raman amplification stage. The pump assembly further includes an active gain equalization element operable to manipulate a wavelength or an intensity of the at least one pump signal to affect a spectral shape of a Raman gain spectrum associated with the Raman amplification stage. In one particular embodiment, the combination of the Raman gain spectrum and a substantially non-uniform gain spectrum of an existing amplification stage over a wavelength range &lgr;s results in a substantially uniform overall gain spectrum over a wavelength range of at least &lgr;s.

Abstract: An optical switch element is described, which includes a fixed layer disposed outwardly from a substrate and a movable mirror assembly disposed outwardly from the fixed layer. The moveable mirror assembly is operable to move relative to the fixed layer responsive to a voltage applied to the movable mirror assembly. In a particular embodiment, the movable mirror assembly includes an inner strip spaced apart from the fixed layer by a first distance and an outer strip disposed approximately adjacent to the inner strip and spaced apart from the fixed layer by a second distance which is greater than the first distance. The optical transmission of the optical switch element changes depending on the position of the movable mirror assembly.

Abstract: An optical switch element is described, which includes a fixed layer disposed outwardly from a substrate and a movable mirror assembly disposed outwardly from the fixed layer. The moveable mirror assembly is operable to move relative to the fixed layer responsive to a voltage applied to the movable mirror assembly. In a particular embodiment, the movable mirror assembly includes an inner strip spaced apart from the fixed layer by a first distance and an outer strip disposed approximately adjacent to the inner strip and spaced apart from the fixed layer by a second distance which is greater than the first distance. The optical transmission of the optical switch element changes depending on the position of the movable mirror assembly.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention includes an optical amplifier operable to amplify a plurality of optical wavelength signals at least in part through Raman amplification. The amplifier includes an input operable to receive a plurality of wavelength signals and an output operable to communicate an amplified version of at least some of the plurality of wavelength signals. The amplifier further includes a pump assembly operable to generate one or more pump signals and a gain medium operable to receive the plurality of wavelength signals and the one or more pump signals and to facilitate amplification of at least some of the plurality of wavelength signals. The amplifier has associated with it a noise figure having a shape varying as a function of wavelength. At least one of the one or more pump signals is operable to have its power varied to selectively control the shape of the noise figure.

Abstract: A Raman amplifier assembly includes a Raman amplifier configured to receive a signal from a signal source. The signal travels in an upstream direction in the Raman amplifier. A first pump source is coupled to the Raman amplifier. The first pump source produces a first pump beam that travels in a downstream direction and is counter-propagating relative to the signal. A second pump source is coupled to the Raman amplifier and produces a second pump beam that travels in the upstream direction. The second pump source has an average relative intensity noise of less than −80 dB/Hz.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for generating a broadband spectral continuum using short spans of constant-dispersion, dispersion-shifted fibers. The continuum generation results from the combined effects of pulse compression and spectral shaping. Pulse compression is achieved through soliton-effect compression in one or more stages of anomalous dispersion fiber, which lengths are determined by the occurrence of the first optimal compression of the corresponding order of soliton. The spectral shape results from 3rd order dispersion effects on the evolution of the pulse shape as it propagates through the final segment(s) of the fiber span. The pulse area of the incident pulse determines the fiber properties required to optimize compression. The sign and magnitudes of the 2nd and 3rd order dispersions in the final span(s) as well as the pulse width at the input to the final span determine the continuum extent, flatness and symmetry.

Abstract: A multi-stage Raman amplifier includes a first Raman amplifier stage having a first sloped gain profile operable to amplify a plurality of signal wavelengths, and a second Raman amplifier stage having a second sloped gain profile operable to amplify at least most of the plurality of signal wavelengths after those wavelengths have been amplified by the first stage. The second sloped gain profile is approximately complementary slope to the slope of the first sloped gain profile. The combined effect of the first and second Raman stages contributes to an approximately flat overall gain profile over the plurality of signal wavelengths.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, an apparatus operable to facilitate optical signal processing includes a micro-electro-optic system (MEMS) device having a moveable mirror layer operable to receive a first copy of an input signal from a beam splitter and to reflect the first copy of the input signal for combination with a second copy of the input signal at an output to form an output signal. The moveable mirror layer being displaceable in a substantially piston-like motion to introduce a phase shift between the first and second signal copies at the output. The amplitude of the output signal varying depending on the displacement of the moveable mirror layer.

Abstract: A multi-stage optical amplifier that has an optical fiber with a first length of amplifier fiber and a second length of amplifier fiber. The optical fiber is configured to be coupled to a signal source that produces at least a signal wavelength &lgr;s and a pump source that produces a pump wavelength &lgr;p. Pump wavelength &lgr;p is less than signal wavelength &lgr;s. Signal input, signal output and pump input ports are each coupled to the optical fiber. A first lossy member is coupled to the optical fiber and positioned between the first and second lengths of amplifier fiber. A pump shunt is coupled to the signal input port and the signal output port.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for generating a broadband spectral continuum using short spans of constant-dispersion, dispersion-shifted fibers. The continuum generation results from the combined effects of pulse compression and spectral shaping. Pulse compression is achieved through soliton-effect compression in one or more stages of anomalous dispersion fiber, which lengths are determined by the occurrence of the first optimal compression of the corresponding order of soliton. The spectral shape results from 3rd order dispersion effects on the evolution of the pulse shape as it propagates through the final segment(s) of the fiber span. The pulse area of the incident pulse determines the fiber properties required to optimize compression. The sign and magnitudes of the 2nd and 3rd order dispersions in the final span(s) as well as the pulse width at the input to the final span determine the continuum extent, flatness and symmetry.

Abstract: An optical switch element is described, which includes a fixed layer disposed outwardly from a substrate and a movable mirror assembly disposed outwardly from the fixed layer. The moveable mirror assembly is operable to move relative to the fixed layer responsive to a voltage applied to the movable mirror assembly. In a particular embodiment, the movable mirror assembly includes an inner strip spaced apart from the fixed layer by a first distance and an outer strip disposed approximately adjacent to the inner strip and spaced apart from the fixed layer by a second distance which is greater than the first distance. The optical transmission of the optical switch element changes depending on the position of the movable mirror assembly.

Abstract: Method and system are disclosed for stable, multi-wavelength continuous wave (CW) generation using fiber-based supercontinuum and spectrum-slicing of its longitudinal modes. The continuum generated is coherent and stable, making it an attractive alternative as a spectrally-sliced source for continuous, multiple wavelength channels. A 140 nm wide supercontinuum with a 10 GHz repetition rate is generated in <30 meters of fiber. To obtain CW channels with 40 GHz spacing, time-domain multiplexing and longitudinal mode slicing are utilized. To obtain stable, continuous wave operation, short-fiber supercontinuum generation and a pulse interleaving method are utilized. The invention may be utilized as a broadband wavelength-division multiplexed source.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical circuit for filtering and frequency modulation of soliton signal pulses traveling over long spans of waveguide fiber. The circuit makes use of the filtering properties of a non-linear optical loop mirror (NOLM). The time difference between control pulses and signal pulses co-propagating in the NOLM is controlled to increase or decrease the centroid shift of the signal pulses. The signal and control pulse streams are derived from a single stream of soliton pulses. The NOLM serves to filter low power noise from the soliton signal pulses at the same time as it shifts the centroid frequency of the soliton signal pulses up or down. The circuit can be inserted at advantageous points along a waveguide fiber transmission line to allow propagation of solitons, without electronic regeneration, over line lengths of 100 km.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, an apparatus operable to provide optical signal processing includes an inner conductive layer including an at least substantially conductive material and a plurality of at least partially reflective mirror strips disposed outwardly from the inner conductive layer and operable to receive an input optical signal, wherein none of the plurality of strips has a width greater than 40 microns. At least some of the strips are operable to undergo a partial rotation in response to a control signal, the partial rotation resulting in a diffraction of the input optical signal wherein a majority of the diffracted input signal is communicated in one direction.

Abstract: This invention describes new developments in Sagnac Raman amplifiers and cascade lasers to improve their performance. The Raman amplifier bandwidth is broadened by using a broadband pump or by combining a cladding-pumped fiber laser with the Sagnac Raman cavity. The broader bandwidth is also obtained by eliminating the need for polarization controllers in the Sagnac cavity by using an all polarization maintaining configuration, or at least using loop mirrors that maintain polarization. The polarization maintaining cavities have the added benefit of being environmentally stable and appropriate for turn-key operation. The noise arising from sources such as double Rayleigh scattering is reduced by using the Sagnac cavity in combination with a polarization diversity pumping scheme, where the pump is split along two axes of the fiber. This also leads to gain for the signal that is independent of the signal polarization.

Abstract: A multi-stage optical amplifier includes at least a distributed Raman amplifier fiber and a discrete amplifier fiber. The amplifier is configured to be coupled to at least one signal source that produces a plurality of signal wavelengths &lgr;s; and at least a first pump source that produces one or more pump beam wavelengths &lgr;p. A signal input port is coupled to the amplifier. A signal output port is coupled to the amplifier. The distributed Raman and discrete amplifier fibers are positioned between the signal input port and the signal output port. A first pump input port is coupled to a first end of the distributed Raman amplifier fiber. A second pump input port is coupled to a second end of the distributed Raman amplifier fiber. The first end is located closer to the signal input port than the second end. A third pump input port is coupled to the discrete amplifier fiber.

Abstract: An optical switch element is described, which includes a fixed layer disposed outwardly from a substrate and a movable mirror assembly disposed outwardly from the fixed layer. The moveable mirror assembly is operable to move relative to the fixed layer responsive to a voltage applied to the movable mirror assembly. In a particular embodiment, the movable mirror assembly includes an inner strip spaced apart from the fixed layer by a first distance and an outer strip disposed approximately adjacent to the inner strip and spaced apart from the fixed layer by a second distance which is greater than the first distance. The optical transmission of the optical switch element changes depending on the position of the movable mirror assembly.

Abstract: A broadband nonlinear polarization amplifier includes an input port for inputting an optical signal having a wavelength &lgr;. A distributed gain medium receives and amplifiers the optical signal through nonlinear polarization. The distributed gain medium has zero-dispersion at wavelength &lgr;0. A magnitude of dispersion at &lgr; is less than 50 ps/nm-km. One or more semiconductor lasers are operated at wavelengths &lgr;p for generating a pump light to pump the distributed gain medium. An output port outputs the amplified optical signal.