Importance

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Abstract

Novel optical amplifier designs are disclosed. The optical amplifier generally comprises an amplification section having an anti-reflection coating on a first end face and a reflector optically coupled to a second end face. The amplification section of the amplifier interacts with the input and reflected optical signals to produce an amplified optical signal. The amplification section may include rare earth doped glass amplifiers (e.g., erbium-doped amplifiers), rare earth doped waveguide amplifiers (e.g. erbium-doped waveguide amplifiers), polymer amplifiers or parametric amplifiers. The amplifier may include a waveguide structure proximate the amplification section to confine optical signals within the amplification section and/or guide signals into and out of the amplifier. The amplifier may be combined with optical components for coupling signals between optical fibers and the amplifier. The waveguide may have a modified 'V' shape where the 'V' with at two legs. At least one leg of the 'V' is bent so that both legs intersect the first end face substantially parallel to each other.

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First Claim