Long-distance fiber Bragg grating sensor system with a high optical signal-to-noise ratio based on a tunable fiber ring laser configuration

A novel tunable fiber ring laser configuration with a combination of bidirectional Raman amplification and dual erbium-doped fiber (EDF) amplification is proposed for realizing high optical signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), long-distance, quasi-distributed fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensing systems with large capacities and low cost. The hybrid Raman-EDF amplification configuration arranged in the ring laser can enhance the optical SNR of FBG sensor signals significantly owing to the good combination of the high gain of the erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) and the low noise of the Raman amplification. Such a sensing system can support a large number of FBG sensors because of the use of a tunable fiber Fabry-Perot filter located within the ring laser and spatial division multiplexing for expansion of sensor channels. Experimental results show that an excellent optical SNR of approximately 60 dB has been achieved for a 50 km transmission distance with a low Raman pump power of approximately 170 mW at a wavelength of 1455 nm and a low EDFA pump power of approximately 40 mW at a wavelength of 980 nm, which is the highest optical SNR achieved so far for a 50 km long FBG sensor system, to our knowledge.     

Noise performance analysis of bi-directionally pumped distributed fiber Raman amplifiers with consideration of fiber nonlinearity and its impact on EDFA output OSNR

Under small-signal assumption, equivalent noise figure normalized by fiber nonlinearities (NENF) of bi-directionally pumped distributed fiber Raman amplifiers (BiDFRA) is derived. Amplified spontaneous Raman scattering noise and double Rayleigh scattering noise are both included. The relation between NENF and Raman gain, forward Raman gain percentage is investigated under different polarization factor and Rayleigh scattering coefficient. It agrees well with numerical simulation results. Based on the analytical expression, the optical signal-to-nose ratio (OSNR) improvement of hybrid pre-BiDFRA/erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) compared with sole EDFA is studied. It is shown that there is an optimum Raman gain and forward Raman gain percentage to maximize the OSNR improvement. Finally, some guidelines on BiDFRA design are proposed.     

Effect of Cascading Amplification Stages on the Performance of Serial Hybrid Fiber Amplifier

Abstract

This study demonstrates simulation and experimental validation of a wideband serial hybrid Raman/erbium-doped fiber amplifier. Two configurations are adopted; in type A, a Raman amplifier is the first stage, and in type B, an erbium-doped fiber amplifier is the first stage. At low input signal power, the average gain level is 20 dB with a flat gain bandwidth of 40 nm for both configurations. The noise figure in type B is dominated by the erbium-doped fiber amplifier and produces lower values and flatter spectra than in type A. The gain of the proposed hybrid amplifiers is affected more by the second amplification stage.     

Performance Evaluation and Characterization of Hybrid Optical Amplifiers for Dwdm Systems at Ultra Narrow Channel Spacing

We study hybrid optical amplifiers (HOAs) for dense wavelength division multiplexed (DWDM) systems at reduced channel spacing (<0.2 nm). The Raman erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) (R-E) and EDFA-semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) (E-S) hybrid optical amplifiers (HOAs) are investigated for the first time at 0.05 and 0.1 nm of the channel spacing. We show that the R-E HOA provides better gain (23.9 dB) and induces lesser crosstalk (-14.1 dB) with minimum utilization of the bandwidth. We report that 70 km is the optimum span distance at which the R-E HOA achieves a 2450 km transmission distance with acceptable performance. The theoretical results are found to be in accordance with numerical simulations in terms of the amplifier gain and induced crosstalk.     

A global design of an erbium-doped fiber and an erbium-doped fiber amplifier

A global design of an erbium-doped fiber and an open-loop erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) in a steady-state operation is discussed by applying genetic algorithms. Taking a signal gain and a bandwidth as objective functions, 7 parameters of the EDFA (erbium concentration, core radius, erbium-doped radius, refractive index difference, fiber length, pumping wavelength and signal power) are optimized by solving optical propagation equations, assuming a homogenous two-level active medium and a single-mode propagation. There is evidence to show that the 1480 nm pump utilized in usual EDFAs is not an optimal choice, which should be chosen around 1460 nm. The optimal core radius ranges 0.465–0.548 μm on pumping power 50–200 mW. Under different design objects and with different pumping powers, however, there are different optimal Er-doped concentrations, reflective index differences and fiber lengths. As a single fiber EDFA, 35 dB signal gain or 35 nm bandwidth is obtained with the 7 optimal parameters, 100 mW pumping power and 0.001 mW input signal power.     

Investigation of Hybrid Optical Amplifiers for Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexed System with Reduced Spacings at Higher Bit Rates

Abstract

This article proposes various combinations of optical amplifiers for a dense wavelength division multiplexed system and investigates the impact of reduced channel spacing at high bit rates in terms of quality factor, bit error rate, eye closure, and output power. It is reported that the hybrid optical amplifier (Raman–erbium-doped fiber amplifier [EDFA]) provides better results with a maximum covered single span distance (220 km) at channel spacing of 6.25 GHz. The maximum acceptable bit rate for the 12.5-GHz channel spacing dense wavelength division multiplexed system is also investigated, and the recommendation is provided that for the Raman–EDFA, Raman–EDFA–Raman, EDFA–Raman–EDFA, and EDFA–semiconductor optical amplifier–EDFA, the operating bit rate should not be greater than 20, 16, 19, and 20 Gbps, respectively.     

Ultra-broadband amplified spontaneous emission source by using heterogeneous optical amplifier

In this work, we propose and experimentally investigate an ultra-broadband amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) light source with 113.8 nm bandwidth (1446.2 to 1560.0 nm) by using a cascaded two-stage optical amplifier, which is consisted of semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA, 1st stage) and erbiumdoped fiber amplifier (EDFA, 2nd stage), when the output intensity is above ?35 dBm/0.01 nm. And, the EDFA only uses a 3 m long erbium-doped fiber (EDF) with a 27 mW pumping power and SOA is driven at 200 mA bias current. Moreover, the proposed amplifier also can provide a broadband gain amplification of 114 nm in the wavelengths of 1464.0 and 1578.0 nm with the noise figure distribution of 6.8 to 8.1 dB.     

基于半导体光放大器的可调谐多波长光纤激光器

报道了一种新型环形腔可调谐多波长光纤激光器，腔内以半导体光放大器为增益介质，利用高双折射光纤构成的高双折射环形镜的滤波特性，在室温下，获得了基本符合ITU-T标准100GHz的17个波长以上的稳定多波长输出.各信道峰值功率差小于6 dB，线宽小于0.102 nm，信噪比大于25 dB.通过调节高双折射环形镜内的偏振控制器状态实现了这一组波长整体在50GHz范围内连续可调谐.并利用实验方法，对该光纤激光器应用于掺铒光纤放大器对多信道放大性能测试的可行性进行了初步探讨.     

Proposed Power-Equalized EDFA Modules Using Fiber Bragg Gratings with Various Reflectivities

We proposed and experimentally demonstrated two power-equalized erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) modules using fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) with various reflectivities for individual channels. The transmission type power-equalized EDFA module is low-cost for its simple design, while the reflection type power-equalized EDFA module can suppress most of the amplified spontaneous emission noise. Both consist of a bidirectional EDFA, a set of FBG chains with suitable reflectivities, and an optical isolator/optical circulator. They can find potential applications in wavelength division multiplexing lightwave transmission systems.     

Enhancement of Gain in L-Band Bismuth-Based Erbium-Doped Fibre Amplifier Using an Un-pumped EDF and Midway Isolator

A hybrid L-band erbium-doped fibre amplifier (EDFA) with enhanced gain characteristic is demonstrated without a significant noise figure penalty. It uses a backward C-band amplified stimulated emission from both the ends of a bismuth-based EDFA system to pump an unpumped erbium-doped fibre (EDF) for gain enhancing. The maximum gain enhancement of 4.0dB is obtained at wavelength 1604nm with EDF length of 20m. The gain spectrum is reasonably fiat in this amplifier compared with the amplifier without an EDF. The gain varies from 27.4 dB to 30.2 dB at wavelength region 1564-1608 nm with incorporation of 20 m EDF. Noise figure also varies from 6.0 to 7.TdB at this wavelength region.     

抽运方式对混合拉曼光纤放大器性能的影响

通过实验比较了前向抽运拉曼光纤放大器与掺铒光纤放大器组成的混合放大器、后向抽运拉曼光纤放大器与掺铒光纤放大器组成的混合放大器的性能。实验采用75km标准单模光纤作为增益介质。采用20信道(符合ITU-T建议的波分复用信号)，波长为1537．377～1560．605nm，作为混合放大器的测试信号。20信道总功率-2．86dBm，每一信道用2．5Gb／s、码长2^7-1的非归零码通过电吸收调制器(EA)进行外调制。实验结果表明，前向抽运方式混合放大器的性能优于后向抽运方式的混合放大器，其中噪声系数的改善值为2．28～6．55dB。采用前向抽运时，各信道的增益同后向抽运相比，增加值均大于5dB。但不论采取那种抽运方式，采用混合放大的形式，各信道的光信噪比均大于26．9dB。     

Novel split-band erbium-doped fiber amplifier

In this paper we design a 120 nm bandwidth erbium-doped fiber amplifier using a seed light injection method for the first time. It is shown that when the wavelength of the seed light varies from 1520 to 1570 nm, the gain at 1610 nm reaches maximum near 1553 nm and increases as the seed light power. Based on the method, a novel split-band EDFA configuration is designed. The split-band architecture employs a 1550/1610 nm waveband multiplexer/demultiplexer and two independent sub-bands which pass in parallel through separate branches of the optical amplifier. The signals at independent sub-bands are combined and flattened before output, resulting in a broadband gain-flattened optical amplifier with 120 nm bandwidth.     

Gain-clamping techniques in two-stage double-pass L-band EDFA

Two designs of long-wavelength band erbium-doped fiber amplifier (L-band EDFA) for gain clamping in double-pass systems are demonstrated and compared. The first design is based on ring laser technique where a backward amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) from the second stage is routed into the feedback loop to create an oscillating laser for gain clamping. The gain is clamped at 18.6 d B from -40 to -80 dBm with a gain variation of less than ±0.1 dB and a noise figure of less than 6 dB. Another scheme is based on partial reflection of ASE into the EDFA, which is demonstrated using a narrowband fiber Bragg grating. This scheme achieves a good gain clamping characteristic up to -12 dBm of input signal power with a gain variation of less than ±0.3 dB from a clamped gain of 22 dB. The noise figure of a 1580 nm signal is maintained below 5 dB in this amplifier since this scheme is not based on lasing mechanism. The latter scheme is also expected to be free from the relaxation oscillation problem.     

Temperature independent length optimization of L-band EDFAs providing flat gain

In this study, single stage (SS), double-stage (DS), and gain flattened (GF) DS L-band erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) configurations are designed in order to obtain a flat gain amplifier. Temperature dependence of the mentioned configurations is also analyzed. Maximum spectral dependence of EDFA gain with respect to temperature is obtained for SS EDFA design while smaller spectral dependence of gains is obtained for both DS and GF DS L-EDFA configurations. It is observed that the maximum temperature dependence is in the range of 1570-1580 nm band for all configurations. It has also been found that for all configurations, reducing the temperature has greater effect than raising the temperature on EDFA gain. The overall results show that a temperature independent L-band configuration has not been possible. However, for some signal wavelengths, the erbium-doped fiber (EDF) lengths at which the gain is temperature independent are observed.     

Optical bistability in fiber ring resonator containing an EDFA

In this paper, we study on optical bistability behaviors in a double-coupler ring resonator, in which an erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) is inserted into the ring for counteracting the loss by the gain of EDFA. The two groups of transmitted and reflected optical bistability loops under different parameters are investigated symmetrically. According to our optimum design of this new optical bistable device, the switching power can be less than 60 mW.     

宽带喇曼/EDFA混合放大器的优化设计

采用改进的模拟退火算法对Raman/EDFA混合放大器的增益谱进行了优化，根据EDFA及Raman的功率传播方程获得了简洁的目标函数.通过对模拟退火算法几个优化环节的改进，使其能够更快速地应用于Raman/EDFA的多峰值问题的优化设计，可以在短时间内获得最优的放大器参量.计算结果表明选择合适的喇曼抽运波长和抽运功率，仅用4个反向抽运的分布式喇曼放大器加C波段的EDFA就可以获得C+L波段约70 nm的带宽、开关增益达到15 dB、最大增益波动小于1.2 dB的平坦增益谱，而且无需额外的平坦滤波器.     

Optimization of gain flattened C-band EDFA using macro-bending

Optimization of gain flattened C-band erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) using a macrobending method with an improved gain flatness and bandwidth is demonstrated. The optimization for gain flatness and bandwidth was achieved by varying the bending radius and the length of the doped fiber. In the optimized condition, the gain saturation effect as well as the energy transfer from shorter wavelengths to longer wavelengths resulted in a flattened and broadened gain profile in the C-band region. The amplifier was optimized to a 9 m long erbium-doped fiber (EDF) with erbium ion concentration of 1100 ppm and bending radius of 6.5 mm. The gain variation of the EDFA is obtained within ±1 dB over 25 nm bandwidth of C-band region.     

Simultaneously gain-flattened and gain-clamped erbium fiber amplifier

In this paper, we propose and demonstrate a simple erbium amplifier module based on an erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) and an erbium-doped waveguide amplifier (EDWA) in serial, having gain-flatted (GF) and gain-clamped (GC) functions simultaneously. In first proposed GF amplifier scheme, the maximum gain variation of 2.5 dB can be observed in the effective range of 1528 to 1562 nm and the entire gains are above 35 dB with the input signal power of ?30 dBm. Hence, we investigate second scheme by optical feedback method in the proposed fiber amplifier achieving gain-flattened (GF) and gain-clamped (GC) efficiencies simultaneously. Thus, the maximum gain variations of ±0.8 and ±1.8 dB can be obtained in the operating range of 1530 to 1564 nm, when the input signal powers are ?16 and ?40 dBm, respectively. Moreover, the dynamic gain profile can be adjusted and dynamic input power range is also measured based on the proposed GF and GC fiber amplifier.     

A Novel Gain-Clamped Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifier for Wavelength Division Multiplexed Systems

Amplification of multiwavelength signals by an erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) is becoming critical, due to the proliferation of wavelength division multiplexed systems. However, when a standard EDFA is employed, the dissimilarities among the signals’ gain may prove unacceptable. Thus, a novel gain-clamped EDFA is proposed here to tackle the issue of gain tilt. The suitability of the configuration is then investigated through a numerical model, which is developed based on the standard EDFA and fiber laser models.     

Equalization of Erbium Gain Spectrum Using the Multiport Lattice Filter

We propose an accurate modeling technique of concatenated long-period fiber gratings. The proposed technique is then applied to the synthesis of long-period fiber gratings for the erbium gain equalization using the simulated annealing and the steepest descent minimization technique. We have obtained design parameters of the piecewise-uniform long-period fiber gratings that fit the inverted erbium gain spectrum of a commercially available erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) over the entire 1525 nm to 1570 nm range.