Abstract

The construction of economical broad band optical communication networks needs practical optical amplifiers with a high output power and low-noise figure. Although erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFA) exhibit almost perfect level of performance for 1.5 μm-band amplification, fiber chromatic dispersion compensation becomes a problem when an EDFA is introduced into already operating fiber networks constructing using conventional fiber. Praseodymium-doped fluoride fiber amplifiers (PDFA) and Raman fiber amplifiers potentially overcome the problem of transmission loss in any 1.3 μm optical link.^1,2 In this paper we review PDFA technology in relation to high-power and low-noise amplifiers operated at 1.3 μm.

© 1995 IEEE