Optimum gain-equalised configuration of wideband erbium-doped fibre amplifier using inter-stage samarium-doped fibre and midway isolator

Abstract

The optimum gain-equalised configuration for the erbium-doped fibre amplifier (EDFA) using a samarium-doped fibre (SDF) is investigated. The dual-pumping scheme with inter-stage SDF and midway isolator was found to be the optimum scheme for obtaining flattened high spectral gain with variation of less than or equal to +/-0.7dB and with a low noise figure of less than or equal to 5.6dB within the 1530-1560nm range. This amplifier is suitable for multiwavelength transmission systems containing EDFA cascades.