Abstract

There is an intensive discussion in the lightwave communication industry about the right method of measuring the noise figure of optical amplifiers (OFAs): optical or electrical? The paper suggests starting each technique with a complete noise figure model for OFAs. Particular emphasis is on the noise produced by multiple path interference: a new model is presented which does not depend on the linewidth of the source and which can be determined using both optical or electrical techniques. Practical measurement results will also be shown.

© 1994 Optical Society of America