Title :
Optical time-domain reflectometry of discrete fiber Raman amplifiers
Author :
de Matos, C.J.S. ; Taylor, J.R.
Author_Institution :
Femtosecond Opt. Group, Imperial Coll. of Sci., London, UK
Abstract :
Optical time-domain reflectometry is proposed and demonstrated as a means to characterize the signal power evolution in discrete fiber Raman amplifiers. Up to /spl sim/20-dB-gain amplifiers have been characterized comprising different fibers, under copropagating and counterpropagating signal-pump configurations, and under saturated and unsaturated conditions. The results demonstrate the flexibility of this simple and useful amplifier characterization technique. Simulations show good agreement with experimental results, and sustain the reliability of the technique.
Keywords :
Raman lasers; optical communication equipment; optical fibre amplifiers; optical fibre testing; optical pumping; optical time-domain reflectometry; reliability; 20 dB; amplifier characterization technique; copropagating signal-pump configurations; counterpropagating signal-pump configurations; discrete fiber Raman amplifiers; optical time-domain reflectometry; reliability; saturated conditions; signal power; unsaturated conditions; Optical fiber amplifiers; Optical fibers; Optical pumping; Optical saturation; Optical scattering; Reflectometry; Semiconductor optical amplifiers; Stimulated emission; Time domain analysis; US Department of Transportation;
Journal_Title :
Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE
DOI :
10.1109/LPT.2003.814874
