Initial demonstration of a novel broadband optical amplifier using the Kerr effect in an optical fiber

A potentially ultrafast optical amplifier is outlined and demonstrated. The amplification involves an optical signal’s modulating the polarization of a high-power optical pump by use of the high-speed optical Kerr effect in an optical fiber. The pump and signal wavelengths are different, and information transfers to the pump wavelength. The maximum available gain is limited by the onset of other nonlinear effects.