optical amplifier

The optical amplifier is a photonic device used in optical fiber communication systems. It can amplify optical signals and increase the power of optical signals. Optical amplifier is an important subsystem product in the optical fiber communication system and plays a key role in the optical fiber communication system.

The principle of optical amplifiers is based on stimulated emission, which achieves amplification by converting the energy of pump light into the energy of signal light. When the optical signal enters the optical amplifier, it interacts with the pump light, causing the electrons in the optical signal to jump to a higher energy level and release photons during the transition. These released photons have the same wavelength and phase as the photons in the optical signal, causing the optical signal to be amplified.

The following are common types of optical amplifiers:

Erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA): EDFA is currently the most widely used optical amplifier. Its working principle is to use erbium ions in the erbium-doped fiber to amplify optical signals by stimulated radiation.
Thulium-doped Raman fiber amplifier (ERFA): The working principle of ERFA is to use the Raman scattering effect to amplify the optical signal, and its gain is proportional to the length of the optical fiber.
Terbium-doped fiber amplifier (YDFA): The working principle of YDFA is to use terbium ions in the terbium-doped fiber to amplify the optical signal through stimulated radiation, and its gain is proportional to the power of the pump light.

optical amplifier equipment functional structure diagram — The picture above shows the product view and functional structure diagram of the optical amplifier

Optical amplifiers are widely used in optical fiber communication systems, including long-distance optical fiber communication systems, optical fiber access networks, optical fiber metropolitan area networks, etc.

Long-distance optical fiber communication system: In the long-distance optical fiber communication system, optical amplifiers are used to compensate for the loss of optical fibers and ensure the transmission distance of optical signals.
Optical fiber access network: In the optical fiber access network, this product can be used to increase the power of optical signals to meet users’ fiber broadband access needs.
Fiber optic metropolitan area network: In fiber optic metropolitan area network, optical amplifiers are used to increase the power of optical signals to meet the transmission needs of the metropolitan area network.
Trunk communication: In trunk communication, this product can be used to amplify the power of optical signals to compensate for fiber loss and increase the transmission distance of optical signals.
Access network: In the access network, optical amplifiers can be used to increase the power of optical signals to cover longer distances.
Fiber to the home: In fiber to the home, this product can be used to increase the power of optical signals to meet users’ bandwidth needs.

The optical amplifier has the following characteristics:

Low cost: It can reduce the construction and maintenance costs of optical fiber communication systems.
Reliability: It can improve the reliability and availability of optical fiber communication systems.
High gain: The gain of the optical amplifier can reach tens or even hundreds of dB, which can effectively increase the power of the optical signal.
Low noise: The noise coefficient of this product is low and will not cause obvious noise pollution to optical signals.
Wide bandwidth: The optical amplifier has a wide bandwidth and can support optical signals of various wavelengths and rates.
Good flexibility: The gain and operating wavelength of this product can be adjusted by adjusting the pump light power and wavelength.