Abstract
In optical networks, signal power level may vary significantly due to uncontrolled splitting and splicing losses and unequal amplifier spacings. This could cause serious problems at the receiver which has a limited dynamic range. A device that automatically restores the signal power to a predefined level is therefore needed. The saturation characteristics of an Er-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) are not sufficient to equalize different signal input powers. Indeed, the differential amplifier gain should always be >1 as can be shown using an analytical model.l Surprisingly, limiting power amplification could be demonstrated using three cascaded amplifiers.2 The use of multiple pumps makes this approach rather expensive. Here, we demonstrate an optical power equalizer based on only one EDFA.
© 1992 Optical Society of America
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