Method of suppressing non-linearities in an optical communication system

Abstract

A method of optimizing a location of a blocking apparatus in an optical fiber system is disclosed. The method includes providing a first device and a second device; providing a fiber between the first device and the second device, the fiber having a predetermined length; determining the effective length of the fiber based on the predetermined length; and installing the blocking apparatus at the effective length of the fiber.

1 - 15 . (canceled)  
   
   
       16 . A method of optimizing a location of a blocking apparatus in an optical fiber system comprising: 
 providing a first device and a second device;    providing a fiber between the first device and the second device, the fiber having a predetermined length;    determining the effective length of the fiber based on the predetermined length; and    installing the blocking apparatus at the effective length of the fiber.    
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein determining the effective length of the fiber is performed by using the equation:  
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 L 
                 eff 
               
               = 
               
                 
                   1 
                   α 
                 
                 ⁡ 
                 
                   [ 
                   
                     1 
                     - 
                     
                       ⅇ 
                       
                         
                           - 
                           
                             α 
                             ⁢ 
                             L 
                           
                         
                         ⁢ 
                         
                             
                         
                       
                     
                   
                   ] 
                 
               
             
             , 
           
         
       
     
     wherein 
 L is the actual length of the fiber and α is the attenuation coefficient of the fiber.  
 
   
   
       18 . A method of installing a blocking apparatus in an existing fiber optic system having a first location and a second location, the method comprising: 
 measuring a length of fiber between the first location and the second location;    determining the effective length of the fiber based on the measured length of the fiber; and    installing a blocking apparatus in the fiber at the effective length.    
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein installing the blocking apparatus comprises installing installing an isolator in the fiber.  
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein installing an isolator in the fiber comprises installing a free space isolator in the fiber.  
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 18 , installing the blocking apparatus in the fiber comprises installing a fiber grating in the fiber.  
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising installing at least one circulator in the fiber between the first location and the second location.  
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein installing the at least one circulator in the fiber comprises installing at least one free space circulator.