Simultaneous S/sup +/-band amplification and S/sup +/-C-band wavelength conversion in CW pumped fibre optic parametric amplifier

The operation of a continuous-wave (CW) single-wavelength pumped fibre optic parametric amplifier operating in the S/sup +/-band with simultaneous wavelength conversion to the C-band is demonstrated. Peak gain of 25 dB at 1518 nm and gains higher than 10 dB from 1510 to 1530 nm were obtained using 480 m of a fibre with a nonlinear coefficient (gamma)=12.2 W/sup -1/ km/sup -1/, requiring a pump power of 660 mW. Simultaneously, idler wavelengths were generated in the Cband with a peak conversion efficiency of 25 dB at 1552 nm.