Gain-flattened optical limiting amplifier modules for wavelength division multiplexing transmission

Abstract

By integration of a bidirectional erbium-doped fiber amplifier and a three-port optical circulator with several fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs), two gain-flattened optical limiting amplifier (OLA) modules are proposed and experimentally demonstrated. They rely on the use of central wavelength misalignment and bending loss methods, respectively. They cart effectively cover the whole useful 1.55-mu m band. Both modules can provide gain-flattening characteristics over a large input dynamic range. The FBGs-integrated OLA configuration has potential application in wavelength division multiplexing lightwave communication systems.