Abstract: An optical amplifying device disposed on a transmission path of a WDM signal includes an optical amplifier amplifying the WDM signal, a detecting unit detecting a change in a transmission wavelength count contained in the WDM signal and/or a change in light receiving level of the optical amplifier, a measuring unit measuring an optical signal to noise (SN) ratio of the WDM signal outputted from the optical amplifier, an update unit updating a reference value for evaluating the measurement value of the optical SN ratio obtained by the measuring unit when the detecting unit detects the change, a judging unit judging whether or not the measurement value deviates from an allowable range based on a reference value, and an output unit outputting an error of the optical amplifier if the measurement value deviates from the allowable range.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head which can simultaneously trace two tracks is disclosed. This head comprises: a pair of magnetic gap portions; and a pair of magnetic thin-film layers each of which includes a magnetic pole portion in contact with the magnetic gap portion. A distance between these layers increases as they go away from the magnetic pole portions. Each of the layers includes an expanded portion having a cross sectional area in the passing direction of the magnetic fluxes which is larger than a cross sectional area in the passing direction of the magnetic fluxes at the magnetic pole portion.