A Raman amplifier (10) including at least one amplifying fiber (12)
and a coupler (14) for coupling at least first (16) and second (18)
pump laser modules to the amplifying fiber (12), the first pump laser module
(16) including a frequency discriminator (24) for selecting an optical
frequency to be emitted with an optical power exceeding an optical power of remaining
optical frequencies that are also emitted by the first pump laser module (16).
The first optical frequency is spaced apart from a local maximum (28; 36; 48)
in optical power of the remaining optical frequencies, and the second pump laser
module (18) emits at an optical frequency one Stokes-frequency above the
frequency of the local maximum (28; 36; 48). The first optical frequency
and the frequency of the local maximum are chosen on Stokes-frequency above the
signal frequency range. As a consequence, the Raman gain provided in the Raman
amplifying fiber 12 is broadened.