Abstract: A multistage optical fiber amplifier (OFA) system is designed to be upgraded with the addition of pump power when signal capacity of an optical communication link is correspondingly increased. The system includes a gain flattening filter (GFF) that remains valid when the system is upgraded because of the system design. Also disclosed are ways to enhance the GFF as well as control the channel signal gain tilt as well as adjust the external gain uniformity to be the same for an assembly line of OFA systems.

Abstract: Power scaling by multiplexing multiple fiber gain sources with different wavelengths, pulsing or polarization modes of operation is achieved through multiplex combining of the multiple fiber gain sources to provide high power outputs, such as ranging from tens of watts to hundreds of watts, provided on a single mode or multimode fiber.

Abstract: An optical fiber used as the active amplifying medium in a fiber laser is arranged to have a high insertion loss at an undesired frequency, while retaining a low insertion loss at a desired lasing frequency. In one embodiment, loss at a Raman-shifted frequency is introduced by using an optical fiber which has multiple claddings with an index profile that includes an elevated index region located away from the core, but within the evanescent coupling region of the core. A distributed loss, which can be enhanced by bending, is produced at the Raman frequency which effectively raises the threshold at which Raman scattering occurs in the fiber and therefore results in a frequency-selective fiber. In another embodiment, an absorbing layer is placed around the core region. The absorbing layer is chosen to have a sharp absorption edge so that it absorbs highly at the Raman-shifted wavelength, but minimally at the desired lasing wavelength.

Abstract: A double-clad optical fiber has an inner cladding with a cross-sectional shape that is non-circular, but that maintains a good end-coupling profile. The cross-sectional shape of the inner cladding is such that two perpendicular distances across the shape, each of which passes through a geometric center of a core of the fiber, are equal for all angular positions. Thus, while mode mixing within the inner cladding is enhanced, the inner cladding does not suffer any oblong distortions of its shape, and is therefore more easily coupled to conventional fibers. The cross-sectional cladding shape may include various regions along its outer surface that do not conform to a circular geometry about a center of the core. These regions may include flat regions, or concave or convex regions. The overall cross-sectional shape of the inner cladding may also be octagonal or star-shaped.

Abstract: A high power laser optical amplifier system for material processing comprises multiple stage fiber amplifiers with rejection of propagating ASE buildup in and between the amplifier stages as well as elimination of SBS noise providing output powers in the range of about 10 .mu.J to about 100 .mu.J or more. The system is driven with a time varying drive signal from a modulated semiconductor laser signal source to produce an optical output allowing modification of the material while controlling its thermal sensitivity by varying pulse shapes or pulse widths supplied at a desire repetition rate via modulation of a semiconductor laser signal source to the system to precisely control the applied power application of the beam relative to the thermal sensitivity of the material to be processed. The high power fiber amplifier system has particular utility in high power applications requiring process treatment of surfaces, such as polymeric, organic, ceramic and metal surfaces, e.g.

Abstract: An optical fiber used as the active amplifying medium in a fiber laser is arranged to have a high insertion loss at an undesired frequency, while retaining a low insertion loss at a desired lasing frequency. In one embodiment, loss at a Raman-shifted frequency is introduced by using an optical fiber which has multiple claddings with an index profile that includes an elevated index region located away from the core, but within the evanescent coupling region of the core. A distributed loss, which can be enhanced by bending, is produced at the Raman frequency which effectively raises the threshold at which Raman scattering occurs in the fiber and therefore results in a frequency-selective fiber. In another embodiment, an absorbing layer is placed around the core region. The absorbing layer is chosen to have a sharp absorption edge so that it absorbs highly at the Raman-shifted wavelength, but minimally at the desired lasing wavelength.

Abstract: Optical systems of the present invention include a plurality of optical processing nodes in optical communication via at least one signal varying device. The signal varying devices includes an optical fiber suitable for facilitating Raman scattering/gain in a signal wavelength range and a pump energy source for providing pump energy in a plurality of pump wavelengths. The pump source provides sufficient pump energy in each pump wavelength to stimulate Raman scattering/gain in the optical fiber within the signal wavelength range. The pump wavelengths are selected such that the combined Raman gain resulting from the pump energy supplied by each pump wavelength produces a desired signal variation profile in the signal wavelength range. In addition, the pump energy supplied by at least one of the pump wavelengths can be varied to produce a controlled signal intensity variation profile over the signal wavelength range in the optical fiber.

Abstract: A number of variations are provided of a device that provides an amplified single polarization optical signal. Each of these relies on the use of a non-polarization maintaining gain medium through which the signal is directed, and a polarization shifter and reflector that direct the signal back through the same gain medium with a shifted polarization state. An input polarization beamsplitter directs the returning optical signal away to an output, based on its shifted polarization state. The embodiments of the invention include the use of double-clad fiber. Multiple stages may be used to provide specific amplification parameters. In one embodiment, both amplification stages reside in the same polarization shifting optical path. A polarization maintaining amplifier of this type may be used as part of a master oscillator-power amplifier, in which polarization maintaining fiber is used as part of the source laser.

Abstract: An optical amplifier makes use of a co-propagating fiber amplifier stage and a counter propagating fiber amplifier stage. One of the stages is preferably a low noise stage, while the other is a high gain stage, typically the output stage. The low noise stage may have a small core fiber while the high gain stage has a large core fiber. Pumping energy is introduced into the amplifier by coupling a plurality of laser sources in the same wavelength range using a narrow channel wavelength division multiplexer coupler. In each stage of the amplifier, some portion of the pump energy is transferred from the pumping wavelength to the signal wavelength. In a single polarization optical signal generator embodiment, the optical signal is developed in a distributed Bragg reflector oscillator having an output Bragg grating embedded in a polarization perserving fiber. A polarization controller is used at the amplifier output to restore the single polarization which is developed in the oscillator.

Abstract: A WDM communication system utilizes a pump-mediated gain-shaped fiber amplifier having a predetermined nominal signal gain bandwidth and is pumped by a plurality of laser pump sources having different wavelength outputs with their outputs combined to provide a scaled power output of a weighted average of their wavelengths for launching into at least one end of the fiber amplifier. The weighted average of the output wavelengths of the individual sources is varied to produced a modified weighted average that broadens the predetermined nominal signal gain bandwidth. The wavelength weighted average of the combined pump sources may be modified by changing the operation of at least one of the pump laser sources, e.g., by changing the power level or the temperature level of one or more of the individual pump sources or by terminating the operation of one or of the individual pump sources.

Abstract: A fiber laser uses a chirped Bragg grating as the output coupler and the grating is oriented so that the grating period increases in the direction towards the end of the cavity--the "red" end of the grating is at the output coupling end of the cavity. This grating orientation unexpectedly produces a relatively large reduction in the noise generated by the fiber laser. In one embodiment, the chirped Bragg grating is produced by transversely doping spaced-apart portions of the longitudinal fiber core with elements that modify the refractive index of the core. The "chirp" in the grating period is produced by modifying the period of the transversely doped fiber core portions during manufacture of the grating. In another embodiment, a partially reflective chirped fiber grating is used at the input side of the laser as well as at the output side.

Abstract: An optical fiber used as the active amplifying medium in a fiber laser is arranged to have a high insertion loss at an undesired frequency, while retaining a low insertion loss at a desired lasing frequency. In one embodiment, loss at a Raman-shifted frequency is introduced by using an optical fiber which has multiple claddings with an index profile that includes an elevated index region located away from the core, but within the evanescent coupling region of the core. A distributed loss, which can be enhanced by bending, is produced at the Raman frequency which effectively raises the threshold at which Raman scattering occurs in the fiber and therefore results in a frequency-selective fiber. In another embodiment, an absorbing layer is placed around the core region. The absorbing layer is chosen to have a sharp absorption edge so that it absorbs highly at the Raman-shifted wavelength, but minimally at the desired lasing wavelength.

Abstract: An erbium/ytterbium fiber amplifier amplifying an optical signal at approximately 1550 nm is pumped by an optical signal at approximately 1060 nm generated by a grating-stabilized ytterbium fiber laser. The fiber laser energy is output along a first optical path, which is coupled to the fiber amplifier coil via a WDM coupler. An optical attenuator is located in the optical path between the fiber laser and the fiber amplifier coil, and attenuates optical energy in the wavelength range of 1090 nm, to prevent optical coupling in that range between the fiber laser and the fiber amplifier from destabilizing the fiber laser. In one embodiment, the optical attenuator is a narrowband WDM coupler which couples wavelengths in the selected range out of the optical path. In another embodiment, the optical attenuator is a long-period optical fiber Bragg grating which attenuates the selected wavelengths.

Abstract: A low noise optical fiber Raman amplifier with integral Raman laser (FRA) is disclosed. The FRA typically comprises a fiber ring with at least two amplifier stages, with strictly counter-propagating pump radiation. Relatively short wavelength (e.g., 1060 nm) pump power is provided to the Raman laser portion of the fiber ring. Appropriately selected and placed Bragg gratings provide one or more optical cavities in the fiber ring, such that the input pump radiation is converted to the desired amplifier pump radiation (e.g., 1240 nm, suitable for amplification of 1310 nm signal radiation). The FRA can, for instance, advantageously serve as power amplifier in digital or analog fiber communication systems, or it can serve as pre-amplifier or in-line amplifier.

Abstract: A high-power pumping source for a three-level optical fiber amplifier includes a cladding-pumped four-level fiber laser. The four-level laser converts the high-power output of a diode array into an intense diffraction-limited beam which is utilized to pump an associated three-level laser. In turn, the output of the three-level laser is coupled to the fiber amplifier to supply a high-power pumping signal thereto.

Abstract: A master oscillator and power amplifier configuration for a high power cladding-pumped laser structure, and a method of making same, is disclosed. The laser structure comprises a single mode core having at least one oscillator defined therein, and a first and second cladding layer for waveguiding and radiation retention. The core is doped with refractive-index modifying dopants, in addition to ionized rare earth elements. The refractive-index modifying dopants facilitate writing one or more spaced pairs of index gratings in the core, each pair defining an oscillator. Oscillator cavity length is determined by the desired mode spacing and is less than one-half of the single mode core length. The index gratings are formed via a ultraviolet light-induced refractive index change in the core, which index change varies periodically along the core. The periodic variation is created by projecting an interference pattern on the core.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) are described. A sensing technique is used, in which a light source having an optical cavity is reflectively coupled to the sample surface. Changes in the surface properties of the sample at the sensed location alter the optical feedback in the light source. This leads to detectable changes in the output characteristics of the light source.

Abstract: Novel optical fiber devices (amplifiers and lasers) are disclosed. The devices comprise one or more optical "cavities", depending on the type of device. The cavities typically are formed by means of in-line refractive index gratings in a length of silica-based optical fiber. The gratings typically have peak reflectivity of at least 98%. Use of such cavities enables CW pumping of the devices, making the devices suitable for use in optical fiber communication systems. In an exemplary embodiment the device is a Raman amplifier for 1.3 .mu.m signal radiation, and in another exemplary embodiment the device is a Raman laser having an output suitable for pumping an Er-doped fiber amplifier. An exemplary pump radiation source is a laser diode-pumped CW Nd:YAG laser.

Abstract: Methods and appartus for upconverting laser sources and amplifiers that use solid state components throughout and achieve such operation with a continuous or quasi-continuous single band infrared pumping source using successive energy transfers between the pumping radiation and activator in the host of the lasant upconversion material under ordinary operating conditions.

Abstract: An optical fiber for amplifying or sourcing a light signal in a single transverse mode. The fiber comprises a host glass doped with erbium (Er) and a sensitizer such as ytterbium (Yb) or iron (Fe). Preferably the host glass is doped silicic glass (e.g., phosphate or borate doped). Electrical energy is provided to diode lasers that pump the Nd laser rod, which in turn pumps the fiber. Such a configuration for pumping the fiber provides a high energy transfer from the diodes to the Nd laser rod, which in turn enables high pumping powers to be coupled into the single-mode co-doped fiber. Based on the amplification characteristics of the co-doped fiber and the efficient coupling of power from the laser diodes, the amplifier provides power and small signal gains comparable to the best observed, while requiring only conventional and readily available diode-based pump sources.