Tunable add-drop filter with an active resonator

Abstract

An add-drop filter for transmitting at least one signal is provided. The add-drop filter includes at least two optical waveguides capable of carrying the at least one signal, and at least one active resonator coupled between the optical waveguides, wherein the at least one active resonator provides gain that counteracts losses for the at least one signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An add-drop filter for transmitting at least one signal, the add-drop filter comprising:
 at least two optical waveguides capable of carrying the at least one signal; and   at least one active resonator coupled between the optical waveguides, wherein the at least one active resonator provides gain that counteracts losses for the at least one signal.   
     
     
         2 . The add-drop filter according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least two optical waveguides are tapered optical fibers. 
     
     
         3 . The add-drop filter according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one active resonator is one of a microsphere, a ring, a capillary, a bubble, a disk, and a microtoroid. 
     
     
         4 . The add-drop filter according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one active resonator comprises a plurality of resonators. 
     
     
         5 . The add-drop filter according to  claim 1 , further comprising a packaging that encloses and facilitates protecting the at least two optical waveguides and the at least one active resonator. 
     
     
         6 . The add-drop filter according to  claim 1 , wherein to provide gain, the at least one active resonator is doped with rare-earth ions that emit light in response to absorbing a gain stimulation signal. 
     
     
         7 . The add-drop filter according to  claim 6 , wherein the rare-earth ions include Erbium ions. 
     
     
         8 . The add-drop filter according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least one active resonator is doped using at least one of a dip coating method, an ion implantation method, and a direct fabrication method wherein the at least one active resonator is fabricated from a sol-gel material including gain dopants. 
     
     
         9 . The add-drop filter according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one active resonator provides at least one of Raman gain and parametric gain. 
     
     
         10 . The add-drop filter according to  claim 1 , wherein a first optical waveguide of the at least two optical waveguides comprises an input port and a through port, and wherein a second optical waveguide of the at least two optical waveguides comprises an add port and a drop port. 
     
     
         11 . An optical communication system comprising:
 an add-drop filter for transmitting at least one signal, the add-drop filter comprising:   at least two optical waveguides capable of carrying the at least one signal; and   at least one active resonator coupled between the optical waveguides, wherein the at least one active resonator provides gain that counteracts losses for the at least one signal; and   a gain stimulation device coupled to the add-drop filter, the gain stimulation device configured to provide a gain stimulation signal that excites a gain medium of the at least one active resonator.   
     
     
         12 . The optical communication system according to  claim 11 , wherein the gain stimulation device comprises a pump laser and the gain medium comprises rare-earth ions. 
     
     
         13 . The optical communication system according to  claim 11 , further comprising a controller communicatively coupled to the gain stimulation device and configured to tune the gain stimulation device. 
     
     
         14 . The optical communication system according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least two optical waveguides are tapered optical fibers. 
     
     
         15 . The optical communication system according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one active resonator is one of a microsphere, a ring, a capillary, a bubble, a disk, and a microtoroid. 
     
     
         16 . The optical communication system according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one active resonator comprises a plurality of resonators. 
     
     
         17 . A method of transmitting at least one signal through an add-drop filter, the method comprising:
 directing the at least one signal into the add-drop filter, wherein the add-drop filter includes at least two optical waveguides, and at least one active resonator coupled between the optical waveguides; and   providing, using the at least one active resonator, gain that counteracts losses for the at least one signal as the at least one signal is transmitted through the add-drop filter.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein providing gain comprises:
 including a gain medium on the at least one active resonator; and   exciting the gain medium with a gain stimulation signal.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein including a gain medium on the at least one active resonator comprises doping the at least one active resonator with rare-earth ions. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein exciting the gain medium with a gain stimulation signal comprises transmitting the gain stimulation signal from a pump laser that is optically coupled to the add-drop filter.