In-line optical phase-sensitive amplifier with pump light source controlled by optical phase-lock loop

This paper describes an in-line optical phase-sensitive amplifier (PSA) with a pump laser whose optical phase is locked to that of a randomly modulated signal by using an optical phase-lock loop (OPLL). The OPLL is designed with the capability of optical phase locking at an arbitrary relative phase. Experimental evaluation is presented of the OPLL employing a newly developed external cavity semiconductor ring laser with a spectrum linewidth of less than 20 kHz. Employing this pump laser with the OPLL in conjunction with a 4.4-km long nonlinear fiber Sagnac interferometer (NFSI) yields optical phase-sensitive gain of up to 11 dB. A randomly modulated signal is successfully amplified and confirmed offering a clear eye-opening.