Double Pass L-Band EDFA with Unpumped EDF

• Main Authors: Harun, Sulaiman Wadi, Tamchek, Nizam, Ahmad, Harith
• Format: Article
• Published: De Gruyter 2003
• Subjects: Q Science (General); QC Physics; TK Electrical engineering. Electronics Nuclear engineering
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/19633/; http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/JOC.2003.24.5.189
• Institution: Universiti Malaya

A new double pass long wavelength band erbium-doped fibre amplifier (L-band EDFA) with a further improved gain is demonstrated using double pass technique with a first 5 m of the EDF is unpumped. The wasted conventional band (C-band) backward amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) is used as a secondary pump source for the unpumped EDF. Our experimental results have shown that, compared to a conventional double pass amplifier, the gain coefficient can be improved considerably from 0.24 dB/mW to 0.40 dB/mW. The new amplifier uses only 67% of the pump power to achieve a gain value equal to that for the conventional amplifier. The maximum gain enhancement of 22.5 dB was observed at a signal wavelength of 1568 nm of while signal and pump powers were fixed at -30 dBm and 62 mW, respectively.