WaveSplitter Technologies' Pump Combiner Handles >6 Watts

No change in performance observed at extremely high power over extended time period

NFOEC, Denver, CO, Tuesday, August 29, 2000 - WaveSplitterTM Technologies, Inc., a worldwide supplier of fiber optic components for optical amplifier and DWDM systems, today announced the successful testing of the WavePumpTM pump laser combiner at very high powers over extended periods of time. High power handling is a concern in new amplifier designs that require increased pump power to amplify the higher channel counts used in today's DWDM systems or with new Raman amplifiers used in ultra-long-haul networks. The WavePump successfully handled >6 Watts for 1 hour and >3 Watts for over 500 hours with no change in performance within the resolution limit of the measurement.

"Other vendor's pump combiners have been damaged at power levels near just 1 Watt," said Bill Diamond, President and CEO of WaveSplitter, "but higher channel count and ultra-long-haul networks require higher power amplifiers. We have tested the WavePump to >6 Watts, well above the power level other components have been tested to, and it has performed extremely well. We feel the WavePump is very well suited to meet the needs of next-generation amplifier designers."

To achieve >6 Watts in the pump combiner, two Raman pump lasers were run at 3.1 Watts and 3.3 Watts and combined in the WavePump. Since the lasers were run above their rated power, this test was conducted for a limited time. In addition, >3 Watts was input to WavePump pump laser combiners and monitored for >500 hours. All devices tested performed extremely well and no measurable change in insertion loss was observed over the course of the tests.

In addition to high power handling capability, the WavePump offers low insertion loss, the possibility of combining multiple (>2) pump lasers, and is an economical alternative to other pump combiner products such as polarization beam combiners or thin-film filter devices.

WaveSplitter gratefully acknowledges the assistance of both Spectra-Physics Lasers Inc and SDL Inc. for the use of the equipment needed for the high power tests discussed above.

About WaveSplitter Technologies, Inc.

WaveSplitter Technologies, Inc. develops, manufactures and markets reliable, highly scalable, cost-effective components for optical amplifier and DWDM systems for both long-haul and metropolitan area network applications. WaveSplitter's high-performance fiber and planar lightwave circuit components increase network bandwidth capabilities and offer a unique combination of low signal loss and modular expandability at an economical value. WaveSplitter was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Fremont, California. WaveSplitter is a trademark of WaveSplitter Technologies, Inc. All other trademarks are the properties of their respective owners.

For more information, reporters can contact:

Lisa Blair
WaveSplitter Technologies, Inc.
Phone: 510-651-7800 x 243
Fax: 510-580-1395
E-mail: lisa_blair@wavesplitter.com