Abstract

Increasing interest in reconfigurable networks as well as packet-over-WDM networks has motivated research about the dynamic response of EDFAs. In order to provide constant gain under different input power conditions, modern EDFA design requires fast gain recovery during either channel add/drop or power fluctuations in individual channels. However, for gain control via electrical methods, the recovery time is limited by the slow response of the EDFA itself. The slow response of the erbium atoms sets the limit for how fast we can control the gain of EDFAs via adjusting the pump power. The controllability of the EDFA dynamic gain would be greatly improved if the EDFA could have a faster response.

© 2002 Optical Society of America