Gain enhancement in L-band loop EDFA through C-band signal injection

Gain enhancement provided in L-band erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) with loop configuration and through C-band signal injection is experimentally demonstrated and compared with conventional single-stage L-band EDFA design. Significant backward amplified spontaneous emission suppression in C-band and pump conversion efficiency increase in L-band were observed for varying C-band seed signal wavelength and power levels. Gain and noise figure (NF) performance of loop design L-EDFA is compared with the conventional bidirectionally pumped single-stage L-EDFA design. Gain and NF measurements in the loop configuration have resulted in an up to 9.5-dB increase in gain and up to 2.6-dB degradation in NF at a moderate signal wavelength of 1585 nm.