BIDIRECTIONAL OPTICAL AMPLIFIER AND NONLINEAR LOOP MIRROR

摘要

PURPOSE: To provide a bidirectional optical amplifier which amplifies light signals in two directions by using a progressive wave semiconductor laser amplifier while preventing the adverse influence of the reflected light at its end face and to prevent deterioration in characteristics by the end face reflection of the progressive wave semiconductor laser amplifier of a nonlinear loop mirror which executes sepn. of light pulses by utilizing the nonlinear effect of the progressive wave semiconductor laser amplifier. ;CONSTITUTION: Polarizers 13, 23 and Faraday rotors 14, 24 are arranged respectively on both sides of the progressive wave semiconductor laser amplifier 10. The linearly polarized waves past these polarizers 13, 23 are rotated 45° in directions respectively backward from each other by the Faraday rotors 14, 24 and are made incident on the progressive wave semiconductor laser amplifier 10. The light signals past the progressive wave semiconductor laser amplifier 10 are respectively returned to the original linear polarization state by the Faraday rotors 24, 14 and are passed through the polarizers 23, 13. The light reflected at the end face of the progressive wave semiconductor laser amplifier 10 varies in the polarization state and cannot, therefore, pass polarizers 13, 23.;COPYRIGHT: (C)1995,JPO