ANAHEIM, Calif. -- OFC 2002 -- IPG Photonics Corporation, a leading developer and manufacturer of optical fiber amplifiers, today announced its new Metro2002 series of ultra-compact optical amplifiers for metro, metro-ring, and long-haul applications. At 90x70x12 mm, the Metro2002 series gain blocks are the industry’s smallest and most versatile EDFAs. Models are available with powers up to 20 dBm and Metro2002 versions are available for single-channel, narrow channel (1540-1563 nm), or wide-channel (1530-1565 nm) operation. “In this evolving telecommunications marketplace, there is a clear demand for smallest form, and greatest functionality in order to maximize network capacity and versatility while minimizing price”, said Dr. Denis Gapontsev, head of IPG research and development. “With the Metro2002, we allow customers to meet these demands. New packaging techniques developed at IPG have allowed us to decrease the form factor and reduce cost while retaining the power and WDM options of older amplifier designs. The result is that we now give customers maximum design flexibility at the lowest cost.”IPG Photonics will present the Metro2002 EDFA at the upcoming OFC 2002 Conference at booth number 4077. More information, including a data sheet, is available at www.ipgphotonics.com.In a separate release:IPG Photonics Corporation, the global leader in active fiber devices, announces a new generation of its ELT tunable erbium fiber laser which offers increased power and improved electronics. The new ELT series offers tunability over the C-, the L-, or the combined CL- optical communication bands, with powers available from 100 mW to up to 10 watts. The new ELT series was developed to meet the growing demand for high-power sources for optical fiber and component characterization, stress-testing, and research and development applications. The new ELT series brings standard functionality to this device and offers the precision and ease of control available from low power test sources. With high wavelength accuracy, high signal-to-background ratio, and active power stabilization, the ELT provides a turn-key solution to the need for high power test sources. The ELT generates a standard line-width of less than 0.2 nm so users can work across the ITU grid and accurately characterize losses, cross talk, and non-linear interactions.“In this increasingly competitive environment, there is even greater pressure on optical component suppliers to provide damage threshold data, as well as routinely screen products under higher power conditions”, said Dr. Valentin Gapontsev, Chief Executive Officer of IPG. “The usefulness of the ELT for such work led us to invest in making it a true test and measurement tool.” IPG Photonics Corp.For more information on OFC 2002, please visit: www.nottheofc.com