Radiation Sensitivity of EDFAs Based on Highly Er-Doped Fibers

We have studied the effect of gamma-radiation on the small signal gain and on the noise figure of several EDFAs with similar characteristics and based on special highly Er-doped fibers. Those fibers were fabricated using direct nanoparticle deposition technology, with different Er ³⁺ doping levels. The results show that the use of this technology allows improving the EDFA´s radiation tolerance by increasing the concentration of Er³⁺ ions provided this is not accompanied with higher concentrations of other dopants, which influence the radiation sensitivity of the fiber.