A multi-pump phase modulator apparatus and operating method uses only one phase modulator to eliminate SBS without degrading idler(s). The single phase modulator phase modulates multiple pump signals to form multiple phase modulated pump signals using a modulation signal having a modulation period. A delay apparatus delays a first wavelength group by the modulation period relative to other wavelength groups. A combiner combines the delayed first wavelength group with the other wavelength groups to form a combined modulated multiple pump signal. In one embodiment a multi-pump phase parametric apparatus comprises the multi-pump phase modulator apparatus combined with a parametric apparatus to generate an amplified input signal and one or more idlers. Other embodiments of the multi-pump phase conjugator apparatus are used as part of an Optical Switch, Sampler, Tributary Extractor, and Regenerator.