Single Stage C-Band Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifier (EDFA) Development and Performance Evaluation

Abstract

In this work, a single-stage C-band erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) has been constructed and characterized. Gain (G) and noise figure (NF) measurements collected for the C-band EDFA as a function of wavelength (1528.8 to 1562.3 nm) and laser pump powers are discussed. Further, the EDFA conversion efficiency (CE) as a function of laser pump powers is presented. Simplified mathematical expressions for the EDFA gain, NF, and CE are provided. The C-band EDFA signal gain remained flat in the spectral region 1539 to 1562 nm. Moreover, the C-band EDFA NF increased with wavelength and decreased with the 1480 nm laser pump powers. Additionally, the C-band EDFA maximum achieved conversion efficiency and signal gain is 22.64% at P1=19.49 mW and 22.6 dB at 1531.1 nm, respectively.