Broadband fiber optic parametric amplifiers and wavelength converters with low-ripple Chebyshev gain spectra

We have shown that the propagation constant mismatch /spl Lambda//spl beta/ for a 2-pump fiber OPA can be well approximated by a fourth-order Chebyshev polynomial, by adjusting /spl omega//sub c/, near /spl omega//sub 0/, and the pump spacing. Very low gain ripple can be obtained over tens of nanometer. This level of performance is not available with any other type of optical amplifier. It could make fiber OPAs and related wavelength converters attractive when multiple stages are required.