Performance analysis on double pass amplification using ZR-EDF and broadband fiber mirror (BFM)

Abstract

A double-pass amplification is demonstrated by using a newly doped fiber named as Zirconia based erbium doped fiber (Zr-EDF) and a broadband fiber mirror (BFM). The performances of the double pass Zr-EDFA are compared with single pass Zr-EDFA at high and low input signal powers, -10 and -30 dBm, respectively. The double pass amplification is observed to give a better performance compared to single pass amplification. This is due to the double propagation of the forwarded and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) signal into the gain medium and thus will increase the attainable gain in the entire C- and L band wavelength region. BFM is used as the signal reflector to ensure the reflected signal will propagate twice into the gain medium. It is observed that the double pass performance at lower input signal power of -30 dBm shows the better amplification compared to the high input signal power of -10 dBm. With the lower input signal power of -30 dBm, the maximum gain of 40.3 dB is obtained for double pass amplification at wavelength of 1560 nm. The gain enhancement between the maximum gain of double and single pass amplification is observed to be around 11.7 dB for this lower input signal power.