Abstract

One component of polarization-dependent gain (PDG) in optical amplifiers has been shown to originate from polarization hole burning (PHB) in the erbium fibers.¹ In this paper we quantify its magnitude for copumped amplifiers under operating conditions typical of those used in long-haul amplified systems. We find that PDG can be significant, even when the polarization state of the signal is circular, and that hole burning due to the polarization of the 1480-nm pump laser contributes significantly to the overall polarization-dependent gain of the fiber.

© 1994 Optical Society of America