Optical AmOptical Amplifiersplifiers

Optical amplifiers
2011
Page 1 / 40
Document License
Cdric Ware <cedric.ware@telecom-paristech.fr>
Introduction
High-speed wired communications: optical fibers
Primary limiting factor: attenuation
Attenuation
(dB/km)
1
O
L U
0.5
0.3
0.2 dB/km
0.2
1550 nm
(nm)
1000
1100
1200
1300
1400
1500
1600
2011
Page 2 / 40
Document License
Introduction
Avoid signal regenerators (O-E-O bulky; all-optical not mature)

Optical amplifiers
since 1993: long-distance transmissions
2000s: metropolitan networks
now: extended-range access networks
envisioned: all-optical signal processing
Transmission bandwidth = amplifiers gain bandwidth
2011
Page 3 / 40
Document License
Optical amplification
Optical amplification based on stimulated emission:
Spontaneous emission Absorption
Stimulated emission
Need more electrons in excited state than in fundamental state

population inversion
Page 4 / 40
Document License
2011
Parameters of an amplifier
Fundamental parameters:
, bandwidth
Gain, saturation / output power
System / technological parameters:

Noise, signal distortion
Speed, transient management
Packaging, bulkiness, consumption
Cost
Extra functionalities:
Dispersion compensation
Channel add/drop
Monitoring
Page 5 / 40
Document License
2011
Gain and saturation

Gain:
Ppump
Pout = GPin
Pin (G 1) < Ppump
Pin
Pout
Saturation / max. output power

Gain (dB)
30
3 dB
20
10
0
-40
Page 6 / 40
Document License
Pinsat
-20
20
Pin (dBm )
2011
Amplification noise
Amplifiers add noise (else violate uncertainty principle)

Amplified spontaneous emission (ASE)
Noise transfer from pump
Vacuum fluctuations ...
Noise Figure:
NF =
SNRin
SNRout
NF > 3 dB
assuming quantum-noise-limited input signal

(for a high-gain optical amplifier)
2011
Page 7 / 40
Document License
Noise from a chain of amplifiers

Amplifier chain: the first amplifiers noise dominates
G2
NF2
G1
NF1
NF = NF1 +
Gn
NFn
NF2 1 NF3 1
+
+ . . . (Friis formula)
G1
G1 G2
(Not to confuse with transmission chain, which has strong

attenuation between amplifiers)
Attenuation: quantum noise not affected
NF (attenuator) = attenuation
Insertion loss: attenuation at amplifier input

Strong influence on NF
2011
Page 8 / 40
Document License
Signal distortions
Dispersion (chromatic and polarization) in long amplifiers

Polarization-dependent gain (PDG)
High power non-linearity
WDM four-wave mixing, crosstalk
Soliton-like pulse compression
Gain saturation rapidity

Fast gain non-linearity, distorted bits
Slow gain modulation-transparent, problems with transients
2011
Page 9 / 40
Document License
Packaging
Pumping types
electrical easy integration
optical must insert pump, separate signal at output
Packaging
all-integrated / discrete components
rackable units
bulkiness, electrical consumption
submarine cables: fit in cable, remote power supply...
Integration
photoreceiver + preamplifier
loss-less splitter
active switching matrix
Page 10 / 40
Document License
2011
Functionalities of amplifiers
WDM amplification
Simultaneous amplification of comb
Gain equalization
Gain control
Gain variation rapidity
Input power fluctuation handling
Inter-stage access
Dispersion compensation
ROADM: channel add-drop
Monitoring
Check operation
Optical power of individual channels
Channel estimation
Page 11 / 40
Document License
2011
Typical usage configurations

Transmission line
Booster
Emitter
In-line
Preamplifier
Receiver
... in a mesh network

Different channels different paths
Variable traffic, packet network power fluctuations
Reconfigurable channel add-drop (ROADM)
Loss-less splitter: 1 N + integrated amplifiers
2011
Page 12 / 40
Document License
Needs for different usages

Transmission
Network
Booster
In-line
Preamp
High gain
important
critical
critical
High Pout
critical
important
Low NF and
insertion loss
Polarization
independence
important
critical
critical
critical
Bandwidth
wide
narrow
Dispersion mgmt
DCF
important
Add/drop
Metro
Access
critical
critical
Coarse WDM
multi-span
ROADM
Low consumpt
important
Low cost
important
important
critical
2011
Page 13 / 40
Document License
Erbium-doped fiber amplifiers

Currently most-used amplifiers: EDFAs
Er3+ ions in silica (glass) fiber (codoped Al2 O3 , GeO2 , P2 O5 ...
possibly TeO2 ou ZBLAN/fluoride stronger doping)
Optical pumping: 980 nm, used to be 1480 nm, more efficient before
good 980-nm lasers
Amplification in C-band (1530-1565 nm) or L-band (1565-1600 nm)
Setup:
Er3+-doped fiber
Isolator
Signal
Copropagating
pump
Pump
980 nm
Counterpropagating
pump
2011
Page 14 / 40
Document License
EDFA: gain spectrum

Net gain
Population inversion
100%
60%
40%
(nm)
1500
1520
1540
1560
1580
1600
Adjustement: pump power and , fiber length...

Special-glass fibers (TeO2 , ZBLAN)
Gain-flattening filters (GFFs)
2011
Page 15 / 40
Document License
Gain-flattening filters
Gain-flattening filters gain equalization
www.bookham.com
Interference filters or Fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs)

Complex design
Sensitive temperature variations
Active temperature control
Athermic packaging that compensates dilatation
Insertion loss
Between stages (before input: NF %, after output: Pout &)
Page 16 / 40
Document License
2011
EDFA: pumping
Single-mode fiber required for the signal
low numerical aperture coupling losses when injecting
Single-mode not needed for pump

double-cladding fiber, V-groove injection
(high-power amplifiers)
V-groove
Cladding
Core (doped)
2011
Page 17 / 40
Document License
EDFA characteristics
C- or L-band
All-fiber low insertion loss
Gain up to 40 dB, Pout > 23 dBm , polarization-independent
NF down to 3 dB (lab) ; 46 dB in practice
Long-lifetime excited states (few ms)
gain = constant over each bit
good linearity
Drawbacks:
Optical pumping complex
Sensitive to traffic fluctuations (on packet networks)
2011
Page 18 / 40
Document License
input/output power and gain: Flexible mid-stage access for advanced optical modules such as ROADM devices,
Wavelength Blockers (WBs) and Dynamic Gain Equalizers (DGEs); Fast transient response to sudden dynamic
changes in input power; and Detection of and adjustment to changes in spectral composition of the input signal.
In addition, amplifiers should have minimum Noise Figure (NF) in order to enhance system OSNR and enable
transmission over longer distances without electronic regeneration. In this respect, the use of DRA in
conjunction with conventional EDFAs is a key enabler for ULH transmission and other demanding applications.
Modern EDFAs
2. ADVANCED EDFA MODULES

Usage: all applications on C + L bands
EDFAs have been widely deployed since the early 90s, with the basic technology and components now being
both Dynamic
mature and well
understood
[1]. The basic EDFA design consists of a length of Erbium Doped Fibre
gain
equalization
(EDF), pumped by a 980nm pump laser diode. The addition of input and output isolators and detectors, together
with an
electronic
control unit, represents
a single
stage amplifier
module,channels:
as shown in Fig.
1a. Such
a module is
Power
monitoring
(not on
individual
WDM
too
costly)
typically operated in Automatic Gain Control (AGC) or Automatic Output Power Control (APC), where the
stages,
mid-point
DCF,
input2+
and output
detectors
supply the access
required feedback
to the add-drop
control unit, which in turn controls the pump
power.
(a) Isolator
(b)
Isolator
EDF
Pump
Combiner
Input 980nm
Detector Pump
Control Unit
Gain
Stage I
VOA GFF
Gain
Stage II
Output
Detector
Control Unit
Figure 1. (a) Basic Single Stage Amplifier Module, (b) Broadband Variable Gain EDFA.
D. Menashe, Optical Amplifiers for Modern Networks, ICTON 2006.

Page 19 / 40
Document License
2011
- EM316EDFA-BR (booster amplifier)

- EM316EDFA-LPR (in-line and pre-amplifier)
EDFA packaging
Applications
- Metro DWDM distance extension
- Single wavelength distance extension
Automatic Gain Control (AGC)
Managed and non-managed operation
Advanced performance monitoring
- Input and output power levels
- Signal gain
- Temperature
- Supply voltage
Overview
Gain flattering filters (GFF)
Fiber Driver EM316EDFA modules provide a multi-function, low-noise,

Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifier (EDFA) solution ideal for metro Dense
Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) as well as single wavelength
distance extension applications.
Manual (SNMP management) and automatic power

shutdown
Status LEDs
- Input power OK
- Output power OK
The EM316EDFA-BR and EM316EDFA-LPR are part of the Fiber Driver

optical multi-service platform solution family. The EM316EDFA-BR is
an optical booster extending transmission range. The EM316EDFA-LPR
may be either an in-line repeater or a pre-amplifier that can strengthen
weak signals, optionally extending the link range as well. By performing
two functions, the EM316EDFA-LPR also reduces some inventory
requirements.
Hot-swap support
Fiber Driver two-slot and sixteen-slot chassis
compatibility
Long Haul Application

NC316BU-16/AC
NC316BU-16/AC
NC316BU-16/AC
EM316DMR3G-3R
EM316DMR3G-3R
A
EM316GEMX2R
DWDM
MUX
+9dBm
BOOSTER
IN-LINE
PRE-AMP
90 km
EM316-2XFP
INPUT
OPTICAL OUTPUT
OK
EM316EDFA-BR
Page 20 / 40
Document License
EM316-2XFP
MRV Communications
sales@mrv.com
SD
SD
OUTPUT
PWR/NMS
EM316GEMX2R
INPUT
INPUT
SD
OUTPUT
+4dBm DWDM
MUX
80 km
OPTICAL OUTPUT
OK
PWR/NMS
EM316EDFA-LPR
OUTPUT
OPTICAL OUTPUT
OK
PWR/NMS
EM316EDFA-LPR

sales@mrv.com
2011
Other doped-glass amplifiers

Same principle as EDFAs:
EDWA: doped waveguide instead of fiber
Short length (few cm), low bulk
Obsoleted by mini-EDFAs (fiber spool fits < 10 cm)
EYDFA : codoping erbium-ytterbium

High output power (3045 dBm )
Only part of C band (15401560 nm)
Thulium amplifier (lab)

Tm3+ ions in fluoride glass
S-band amplification
(Depending on pump: 700 nm, 800 nm, 1 m, 1.4 m, and/or 1.56 m)
Short- amplifiers (lab)

Praseodymium or neodymium O-band
Ytterbium 1 m
Page 21 / 40
Document License
2011
Semiconductor optical amplifiers
SOA = semiconductor laser without cavity

Fabry-Perot laser + antireflection-coated facets
Electrode
Bulk
Antireflection
coatings
Quantum
wells
Substrate
Active layer
Quantum
dots
2011
Page 22 / 40
Document License
SOA packaging
SOA module:
chip mounted on base
bias current 200 mA 2 A (according to active layer volume)
Peltier thermoelectric module cooling, temperature control
lensed fibers or microlenses
L. Spiekman, Semiconductor optical amplifiers for reconfigurable optical networks, J. Optical

Networking 6 (11), Nov 2007.
2011
Page 23 / 40
Document License
SOA characteristics
Gain determined by energy band structure
Conduction band
Gr (dB)
0
EF c
-1
-2
-3
EF v
-4
Valence band
(nm)
-5
1500
1520
1540
1560
2011
Page 24 / 40
Document License
Bulk SOAs
Bulk / quantum-well (QW) SOAs:
Mature technology, same wavelengths as lasers
G 20 dB, BW > 50 nm, NF 6 dB
Low polarization dependency, low ripple
Psat < 20 dBm , 100 ps1 ns; nonlinearities
L. Spiekman, Semiconductor optical amplifiers for reconfigurable optical networks, J. Optical

Networking 6 (11), Nov 2007.
2011
Page 25 / 40
Document License
Quantum-dot SOAs
Quantum-dot (QD) SOAs:
G 1025 dB, BW 100 nm, few ps
Excellent linearity
Development underway; almost mature C-band
T. Akiyama et al., Quantum-Dot Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers, Proc. IEEE 95 (9), Sept 2007.
2011
Page 26 / 40
Document License
SOAs: poor amplifiers

Historically, SOA problems:
SOA fast ( 1 ns) bit-timescale signal distortions
NRZ signal
through SOA
NRZ signal
Nonlinearities, four-wave mixing problem with WDM

EDFA preferred, except:
Niche: transmissions outside C-band
Niche: integrated amplifiers (e. g. with photodiode)
Active MZI gates
Signal processing: conversion, regeneration...
Page 27 / 40
Document License
2011
SOAs: comeback
Currently, SOAs making a comeback:

Long-distance transmissions changing techniques
Constant-envelope modulations (NRZ-xPSK)
Packet networks transients on packet timescales
Development of novel metro+access networks

Low cost preferred
Coarse WDM less FWM, need wide bandwidth
Shorter distances/lower powers small signals SOAs linear
Extender-boxes long-range access networks (> 20 km)
2011
Page 28 / 40
Document License
SOA improvements
Quantum-dot SOAs:
Very wide bandwidth
Ultrafast electron transitions + wetting layer gain is clamped
LOA: SOA + VCSEL

Active layer sandwiched between Bragg reflectors
Laser perpendicular to signal propagation
Clamps carrier density better linearity
2011
Page 29 / 40
Document License
New SOA usages

Novel functionalities of the 1990s (nonlinear effects)
All-optical signal processing
Wavelength conversion
Modulation format conversion
Regeneration
Logic gates
Still not widespread outside labs
Integration / use as on-off switch

Loss-less splitters
Switching matrices
RSOAs: replaces laser + modulator for wavelength-independent optical
network units in access networks
2011
Page 30 / 40
Document License
Nonlinear effects (for amplification)

Several-photon interactions
Interactions with non-electronic energy levels: phonons
Virtual level
Signal
Pump
Pump
(2 photons)
(1 photon)
Vibration
level
Idler
Nonradiative
transition
(phonon)
Parametric
Raman/Brillouin
amplification
amplification
Conservation of
energy &
momentum:
p = s + phonon
~kp = ~ks + ~kphonon
2011
Page 31 / 40
Document License
Phonon types
Acoustic phonons: lattice vibrations, low frequencies
Brillouin effect
Optical phonons: molecular vibrations, high frequencies
Raman effect
E
Optical
phonons
Acoustic
phonons
k
Page 32 / 40
Document License
2011
Brillouin scattering
Phase matching: kphonon phonon thus, for significant frequency

difference (hence gain), need large kphonon .
0
counterpropagating pump (kp = ks kphonon
).
Very narrow bandwidth: few 10 MHz.

Application: possibly low-bitrate WDM demultiplexing.
Mostly, parasitic effect that limits optical power.
2011
Page 33 / 40
Document License
Raman amplification
Raman-effect fiber amplifier (RFA): same setup as EDFA, but the active
fiber is a standard, long fiber, and pump chosen as a function of signal .
Raman gain
10
20
30
40
Detuning
(THz)
Gain peak: 12 THz ( 100 nm).

2011
Page 34 / 40
Document License
Pum configuration
Phase matching: kphonon may be large or small compared to kopt for

similar frequencies, so pumping can be copropagating
0
(kp = ks + kphonon ) or counterpropagating (kp = ks kphonon
)
But: very fast effect transfers pump noise to signal
If counterpropagating pump, noise ends up averaged over each bit
Counterpropagating pump
2011
Page 35 / 40
Document License
Raman amplifier = distributed amplification
Localized amplifiers: between fiber spans

Distributed amplifiers: gain along tail of transmission
less attenuation noise, better overall noise figure.
dBm
Signal
Noise
S (dist.)
N (dist.)
20
40
hBo /2
60
0
100
200
300km
2011
Page 36 / 40
Document License
Pros/cons of Raman amplification

Pros:
Works at any
Distributed amplification better NF
Dual pumping gain over whole transmission span
Cons:
Non-uniform gain
Multiple pumps
Need long fiber for significant gain

directly over transmission fiber
Usage: in-line amplification.

2011
Page 37 / 40
Document License
Hybrid RamanEDFA amplification
Pump 14601480 nm, standard + doped fibers:

C-band EDFA + Raman
2.5 Gbps over 370 km with single amplifier stage
285 km
85 km
Signal
Er3+
doped
fiber
Pump @ 1480 nm
2011
Page 38 / 40
Document License
Amplifiers vs applications
Current usages:
EDFAs mature all telecom applications
installed in all amplified networks
only C and L bands; require control transients
Raman long-range transmissions

deployed in recent systems
SOA low cost

beginning to be used
Under development:
SOA special functions (RSOAs; all-optical processing)
QD-SOA: very promising
catch up with EDFA when available in C band?
Research or non-telecom usages:

EYDFA (high power); Tm, Pr, Yb ( < 1500 nm)
Page 39 / 40
Document License
2011
References, further reading

E. Desurvire, Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifiers, Device and System Developments,
Wiley-Interscience, 2002.
D. Menashe, Optical Amplifiers for Modern Networks, ICTON 2006.
L. Spiekman, Semiconductor optical amplifiers for reconfigurable optical networks, J.

Optical Networking 6 (11), Nov 2007.
T. Akiyama et al., Quantum-Dot Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers, Proc. IEEE 95 (9),
Sept 2007.
C. Headley, G. P. Agrawal, Raman amplification in fiber optical communication

systems, Elsevier Academic Press, 2005.
S. Jiang et al., Full characterization of modern transmission fibers for Raman
amplified-based communication systems, Optics Express 15 (8), Apr 2007.
2011
Page 40 / 40
Document License
Document License
Academic context } without modification
By downloading or viewing this document, the user accepts and wholly abides by its license, which is set out in the following dispositions.
The licence confers to the user a right to use the consulted or downloaded document, totally or in part, in accordance with the conditions set out
hereinafter for non-commercial use only.
The right of use set out by the licence allows use in an academic context by a user giving classes in a secondary or higher education establishment and
expressly excludes commercial training and in-work vocational training in particular. This right includes:
the right to copy all or a part of the document onto a computer or paper medium,
the right to distribute all or a part of the document to pupils or students.
No modification of the documents to its contents, form or presentation is allowed. The information relating to the document source and/or its author
must be fully preserved.
The right of use set out in the licence is personal, non-exclusive and non-transferable. Any use except that set out in the licence is subject to the prior,
express authorisation of the author. sitepedago@telecom-paristech.fr
2011
Page 41 / 40
Document License

Optical AmOptical Amplifiersplifiers

Cargado por

Información del documento

Título original

Derechos de autor

Formatos disponibles

Compartir este documento

Compartir o incrustar documentos

Opciones para compartir

¿Le pareció útil este documento?

¿Este contenido es inapropiado?

Copyright:

Formatos disponibles

Optical AmOptical Amplifiersplifiers

Cargado por

Copyright:

Formatos disponibles

Optical amplifiers

Cdric Ware <cedric.ware@telecom-paristech.fr>

Cdric Ware <cedric.ware@telecom-paristech.fr>

Avoid signal regenerators (O-E-O bulky; all-optical not mature)

Transmission bandwidth = amplifiers gain bandwidth

Cdric Ware <cedric.ware@telecom-paristech.fr>

Need more electrons in excited state than in fundamental state

Cdric Ware <cedric.ware@telecom-paristech.fr>

System / technological parameters:

Cdric Ware <cedric.ware@telecom-paristech.fr>

Gain and saturation

Saturation / max. output power

Cdric Ware <cedric.ware@telecom-paristech.fr>

Amplifiers add noise (else violate uncertainty principle)

assuming quantum-noise-limited input signal

Cdric Ware <cedric.ware@telecom-paristech.fr>

Noise from a chain of amplifiers

(Not to confuse with transmission chain, which has strong

Insertion loss: attenuation at amplifier input

Cdric Ware <cedric.ware@telecom-paristech.fr>

Dispersion (chromatic and polarization) in long amplifiers

Gain saturation rapidity

Cdric Ware <cedric.ware@telecom-paristech.fr>

Cdric Ware <cedric.ware@telecom-paristech.fr>

Cdric Ware <cedric.ware@telecom-paristech.fr>

Typical usage configurations

... in a mesh network

Loss-less splitter: 1 N + integrated amplifiers

Cdric Ware <cedric.ware@telecom-paristech.fr>

Needs for different usages

Cdric Ware <cedric.ware@telecom-paristech.fr>

Erbium-doped fiber amplifiers

Cdric Ware <cedric.ware@telecom-paristech.fr>

EDFA: gain spectrum

Adjustement: pump power and , fiber length...

Cdric Ware <cedric.ware@telecom-paristech.fr>

Interference filters or Fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs)

Cdric Ware <cedric.ware@telecom-paristech.fr>

Single-mode not needed for pump

Cdric Ware <cedric.ware@telecom-paristech.fr>

Cdric Ware <cedric.ware@telecom-paristech.fr>

2. ADVANCED EDFA MODULES

D. Menashe, Optical Amplifiers for Modern Networks, ICTON 2006.

Cdric Ware <cedric.ware@telecom-paristech.fr>

- EM316EDFA-BR (booster amplifier)

Gain flattering filters (GFF)

Fiber Driver EM316EDFA modules provide a multi-function, low-noise,

Manual (SNMP management) and automatic power

The EM316EDFA-BR and EM316EDFA-LPR are part of the Fiber Driver

Long Haul Application

Cdric Ware <cedric.ware@telecom-paristech.fr>

Other doped-glass amplifiers

EYDFA : codoping erbium-ytterbium

Thulium amplifier (lab)

Short- amplifiers (lab)

Cdric Ware <cedric.ware@telecom-paristech.fr>

Semiconductor optical amplifiers

SOA = semiconductor laser without cavity

Cdric Ware <cedric.ware@telecom-paristech.fr>

L. Spiekman, Semiconductor optical amplifiers for reconfigurable optical networks, J. Optical

Cdric Ware <cedric.ware@telecom-paristech.fr>

Cdric Ware <cedric.ware@telecom-paristech.fr>

L. Spiekman, Semiconductor optical amplifiers for reconfigurable optical networks, J. Optical