OPTICAL AMPLIFIER

Optical amplifier:

An optical amplifier is a device that amplifies an optical signal directly, without the need to first convert it to an electrical signal. Reason to use Optical Amplifier:
Reliability
Flexibility Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM)

Low Cost

Generic optical Amplifier:

ISOLATORS

Active Medium Input Signal

Pump Source

Output Amplified Signal

Traditional Optical Communication System.

Loss Compensation Repeater Every 20-50km.

Optical Amplifier Are Classified As:

Optical Amplifier

Erdium Doped Optical Raman Amplifier

Semiconductor Optical Amplifier

Amplifier

1. Erdium Doped Optical Amplifier

Introduction:

Operation:

Power level

980 nm signal

1550 nm data signal

Power interchange between pump and data signals

Power level

980 nm signal

1550 nm data signal

Input

Isolator

Isolator Output

WDM

Erbium Doped Fibre

= Fusion Splice

Pump Source

Energy Level of Er3+ ion in silica glass

Gain Flatness:
G = S Output / S Input S Output:output signal (without noise from amplifier) S Input:input signal Input signal dependent Operating point (saturation) of EDFA strongly depends on power and wavelength of incoming signal

MULTISTAGE DESIGN:

A two-stage erbium-doped fiber amplifier with a loss element inserted

between the first and second stage.

Technical Characteristics of EDFA

EDFAs have a number of attractive technical characteristics: Efficient pumping Minimal polarisation sensitivity Low insertion loss High output power (this is not gain but raw amount of possible output power) Low noise Very high sensitivity Low distortion and minimal interchannel crosstalk

2.

RAMAN AMPLIFIER
Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS) causes a new signal (a Stokes wave) to be generated in the same direction as the pump wave down-shifted in frequency by 13.2 THz (due to molecular vibrations) provided that the pump signal is of sufficient strength. In addition SRS causes the amplification of a signal if it's lower in frequency than the pump. Optimal amplification occurs when the difference in wavelengths is around 13.2 THz. The signal to be amplified must be lower in frequency (longer in wavelength) than the pump.

INTRODUCTION

Advantages and Disadvantages of Raman Amplification

Advantages Variable wavelength amplification possible Compatible with installed SM fibre Can be used to "extend" EDFAs Can result in a lower average power over a span, good for lower crosstalk Very broadband operation may be possible
Disadvantages High pump power requirements, high pump power lasers have only recently arrived Sophisticated gain control needed Noise is also an issue

Demerit:

Relatively large devices (km lengths of fiber) not easily integrated with other devices. ASE amplified spontaneous emission. There is always some output even with no signal input due to some excitation of ions in the fiber spontaneous noise. Cross-talk effects. Gain saturation effects.

3.Semiconductor Optical Amplifier

Amplification occurs when light propagates through the active region.
The facets are given an antireflective coating to prevent undesirable reflections, which cause ripple in the amplifier gain Block Diagram of SOA.

Operation:

The energy bands in a p-type semiconductor and the electron concentration at (a) thermal equilibrium and (b) population inversion.

A forward-biased p n-junction used as an amplifier.

Semiconductor Amplifier Advantages:

Are the right size to be integrated with waveguide photonic devices (short path length requirement) Can easily be integrated as preamplifiers at the receiver end Use same technology as diode lasers Gain relatively independent of wavelength Are pumped with current, not another laser

Semiconductor Amplifier Disadvantages: Polarization dependence Self-phase modulation leading to chirp Cross-phase modulation

Four-wave mixing and crosstalk

Extremely short (ns) excited state lifetimes

Application of optical Amplifiers

In-line Amplifier
Transmitter
Optical Optical Receiver Amplifier

Optical Amplifiers Fibre Link

Power Amplifi er

Transmitter Optical Amplifier

Optical Receiver

Preamplifier
Transmitter Fibre Link Optical Receiver

Optical Amplifier

Future Developments

Broadened gain spectrum

2 EDFs with different co-dopant s (phosphor, aluminum) Can cover 1525 to 1610 nm

Gain flattening

Erbium Fluoride designs (flatter gain profile) Incorporation of Fiber Bragg Gratings (passive compensation)

Increased complexity

Active add/drop, monitoring and other functions

Thank You.