EDFA Applications

Optical fiber communication using optical fiber to transmit optical signals is usually limited by optical loss and dispersion. The transmission distance of the optical fiber is shorter, and the development of Er-Doped Fiber Amplifier (EDFA) breaks the optical fiber. The limitation of communication transmission distance has extended the distance of all-optical communication to several thousand kilometers, bringing revolutionary changes to the optical fiber communication industry.

EDFA uses Er-Doped Fiber (EDF) as the gain medium. Under the action of pump light (980nm/1480nm), the population inversion is generated, and the signal light induces the amplification of stimulated radiation. The main advantages of EDFA include high gain, large bandwidth, high output power, high pumping efficiency, low insertion loss, and insensitivity to polarization. It is the most widely used optical amplifier component in optical fiber communication.

 Working principle

The structure of the forward-pumped EDFA is shown in Figure 1. It consists of a length of erbium-doped fiber, pump source, optical isolator, wavelength division multiplexer (WDM), and optical filter and other components.

Figure 1: Schematic diagram of the forward pumped EDFA principle.

In this configuration, the pump light enters from the signal light input, so it is called forward pump, and there are backward and bidirectional pumping. In practical applications, different structures can be selected according to different system requirements. In the amplifier, the pump source generally selects a 980 nm laser diode because 980 nm pump light has higher conversion efficiency and lower noise; WDM couples signal light and pump light into the erbium-doped fiber at the same time; It is a key part of the amplifier; the optical isolator is used to suppress light reflection and stabilize the amplifier; the optical filter is used to eliminate the spontaneous emission of the amplifier to reduce noise.

Photonics could provide pump combiner, optical circulator, optical isolator, tap coupler, WDM, in-line polarizer, and PBS with PM fiber or NO-PM fiber for 1.5um wavelengths. we also provide a combination of a wavelength division multiplexer, tap coupler and an isolator in a single package, offers integrated solution to EDFA application by combining more functions into a very compact package. Contact DK Photonics regarding your requirements.