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Abstract

A low noise optical fiber Raman amplifier (FRA) comprises an upstream and a downstream length of silica-based amplifier fiber, of combined length >200 m, typically >1 km, with an optical isolator disposed between the upstream and downstream lengths of amplifier fiber such that passage of backscattered signal radiation from the latter to the former is substantially blocked. In preferred embodiments counter-propagating pump radiation is coupled into the downstream length of amplifier fiber, and wavelength-selective means are provided for shunting the pump radiation around the optical isolator. The described FRA is advantageously incorporated into optical fiber communication systems. Exemplarily it can serve as power amplifier, as pre-amplifier, or as in-line amplifier. For instance, it can be used to replace conventional opto-electronic repeaters in existing 1.3 .mu.m fiber communication systems, or it can be used as power amplifier in a multi-subscriber optical fiber CATV system. In a still further exemplary embodiment, the FRA is used as a distributed pre-amplifier in a remotely pumped fiber communication system.

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First Claim