Mode-Locked Optical Amplifier as a Source for a wdm-WDM Hierarchy Architecture

Abstract

The present invention relates to advances in the field of reconfigurable optical networks. In particular, the present invention provides improvements in the technology of light sources for use in optical networks. The optical network according to the present invention includes a single light source that can be used to emit all of the bands and channels needed for transmission. In particular, the single light source in the optical network of the present invention is a mode-locked laser.

1 . An optical communications network comprising:
 a mode-locked laser as the light source, said mode-locked laser comprising a gain medium within a cavity of the mode-locked laser and a modulating means to tune the modulation rate of the gain medium to a resonance mode of the cavity, such that a pulse of light comprising a comb of phase-locked wavelengths is emitted from the cavity.   
     
     
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         16 . A method of improving data transfer of an optical network from B bits per second to N×B bits per second, said method comprising:
 using a mode-locked laser as a light source for said network, the mode-locked laser comprising a gain medium and a modulating means within the cavity of the mode-locked laser; 
 tuning the modulation rate of the gain medium to a resonance mode of the cavity; and 
 limiting an emission to a predefined spectral range, such that a pulse of light comprising a comb of wavelengths is emitted from the cavity. 
 
     
     
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         18 . A network according to  claim 1 , wherein said modulating means further comprises a modulator for an optical fiber amplifier, or a modulated current injection for a semiconductor optical amplifier. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the modulating means further comprises a modulator for an optical fiber amplifier or a modulated current injection for a semiconductor optical amplifier.