Subpicosecond soliton amplification and transmission using Er(3+)-doped fibers pumped by InGaAsP laser diodes

Subpicosecond optical solitons in dispersion-shifted optical fibers have been successfully amplified with an Er(3+)-doped single-mode fiber amplifier. The Er(3+)-doped fiber amplifier was pumped by two InGaAsP Fabry-Perottype high-power laser diodes, and gains of 2.8 dB at 1.535 microm and 3.8 dB at 1.552microm were obtained for solitons with pulse widths of 0.7-0.9 psec and peak intensities as high as 40 W. The transmission characteristics of the amplified solitons through a long dispersion-shifted fiber are also reported.