Optical fiber amplifier using optical fiber having a portion which suppresses nonlinear optical phenomena

摘要

An optical amplifier which suppresses the occurrence of a nonlinear optical phenomena, such as four-wave mixing. The optical amplifier includes an optical fiber doped with a rare earth element, and a light source providing excitation light to the fiber so that a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) light is amplified as the WDM light travels through the fiber from a first point to a second point along the fiber. A third point exists along the fiber between the first and second points at which a power of the WDM light substantially reaches a level producing a nonlinear optical phenomenal. A first portion of the fiber is between the first point and the third point, and a second portion of the fiber is between the third point and the second point. The second portion suppresses the occurrence of the nonlinear optical phenomena as compared to the first portion. The second portion can have various different constructions to provide the required suppression effect.