Abstract
Wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) is the rapidly-evolving solution to increased fiber bandwidth and enhanced network connectivity through the existence of many networks in parallel on a single fiber backbone. Wavelength can be used merely to upgrade fiber capacity or to provide independently configured subnetworks over a single fiber platform if wavelength is used for routing. Maintenance of WDM signal intensities over a narrow enough power spread is an urgent area of research not adequately addressed in the fast-paced deployment and WDM upgrade agenda of many service providers. Current EDFAs are not flat across anything near the 32×0.4 nm channel range anticipated for very dense WDM networks. Even evolving flattened amplifiers will not equalize channels which, due to component or source variations, have significant and progressive attenuation relative to other channels.
© 1996 Optical Society of America
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