An optical amplifier is adapted to cancel the Raman gain of an optical transmission path that degrades those optical signals occupying the low end of the bandwidth such that the power is transferred from the latter signals to the optical signals occupying the high end of the bandwidth. More specifically, the optical amplifier adjusts the gain that it applies to the optical signals so that it favors the signal components at the low end of the bandwidth.
An in-line repeater implemented within a Wavelength Division Multiplexed (WDM) optical fiber communication system is shown that includes an attenuator. The communication system includes a WDM multiplexer that transmits a WDM signal including a series of WDM channels, via the in-line repeater, to a demultiplexer that separates the WDM channels into a series of output signals. Within the in-line repeater, the attenuator is coupled between two stages of a single amplifier in order to aid in the power equalization of the WDM channels at the demultiplexer. The addition of the attenuator results in the powers and OSNR of the individual WDM channels becoming closer in value, hence reducing the time and the dynamic range of transmitter power adjustments required for traditional methods to equalize the channels' powers.
The present invention aims at providing an optical amplification apparatus for improving noise characteristics by controlling an amplification operation by assuming a noise figure of the overall apparatus and by taking influences of noise light due to Raman amplification into consideration, and a controlling method of the optical amplification apparatus. The optical amplification apparatus according to the present invention comprises first optical amplifying means for Raman amplifying signal light by supplying excitation light to a Raman amplification medium, second amplifying means for amplifying signal light output from the first optical amplifying means, target value setting means for setting a target value that minimizes the noise figure of the overall apparatus as to input light power of the second optical amplifying means, and excitation light controlling means for controlling an excitation light supply condition of the first optical amplifying means in accordance with the target value set by the target value setting means. Consequently, the noise characteristics of the overall apparatus can be optimized by the control inside the own apparatus and excellent noise characteristics can be accomplished.
Methods and systems for reducing a first tilt of a spectrum of light transmitted via an optical fiber are provided. To reduce the first tilt, an amplifier, such as an erbium doped fiber amplifier, is configured to yield a gain spectrum with an opposite tilt to that of the first tilt. When light traverses the fiber by passing the amplifier, the first tilt of the spectrum and the opposite tilt of the gain spectrum cancel partially or totally, thereby reducing the first tilt.
The present invention aims at providing an optical amplification apparatus for improving noise characteristics by controlling an amplification operation by assuming a noise figure of the overall apparatus and by taking influences of noise light due to Raman amplification into consideration, and a controlling method of the optical amplification apparatus. The optical amplification apparatus according to the present invention comprises first optical amplifying means for Raman amplifying signal light by supplying excitation light to a Raman amplification medium, second amplifying means for amplifying signal light output from the first optical amplifying means, target value setting means for setting a target value that minimizes the noise figure of the overall apparatus as to input light power of the second optical amplifying means, and excitation light controlling means for controlling an excitation light supply condition of the first optical amplifying means in accordance with the target value set by the target value setting means. Consequently, the noise characteristics of the overall apparatus can be optimized by the control inside the own apparatus and excellent noise characteristics can be accomplished.
The present invention provides an optical amplifier for a wavelength division multiplexed communication system, including a first amplifier stage responsive to changes in gain to cause a wavelength dependent gain tilt in one direction. a second amplifier stage (3) responsive to corresponding changes in gain to cause a wavelength dependent gain tilt in an opposite direction and gain control means (4) for controlling the gain of the first (2) and second (3) amplifier stages to maintain a substantially flat response for the amplifier (1) over time, in which the first amplifier stage (2) is a length of optical transmission fibre providing a Raman amplifier. The present invention provides an optical amplifier which uses dynamic gain tilt adjustment whilst maintaining a constant output level from the amplifier.
