Master Oscillator Power Amplifier Diode Laser Pump Sources for Pr3+-doped Fiber Amplifers

We have demonstrated a 75 % coupling efficiency from a monolithically integrated master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) diode laser source into a single-mode optical fiber. This was then used to pump a Pr3+-doped fiber amplifier. A net fiber gain of 19 dB was demonstrated and a 4 dB receiver enhancement was observed when the Pr3+-doped fiber was used as a preamplifier in a 2.5 Gbit NRZ transmission experiment.