Multimode fiber amplifier with tunable modal gain using a reconfigurable multimode pump

Neng Bai; Ezra Ip; Ting Wang; Guifang Li

doi:10.1364/OE.19.016601

Multimode fiber amplifier with tunable modal gain using a reconfigurable multimode pump

Opt Express. 2011 Aug 15;19(17):16601-11. doi: 10.1364/OE.19.016601.

Authors

Neng Bai¹, Ezra Ip, Ting Wang, Guifang Li

Affiliation

¹ College of Optics & Photonics/CREOL&FPCE, University of Central Florida, 4000 Central Florida Boulevard, Orlando, Florida 32816-2700, USA. bneng@creol.ucf.edu

PMID: 21935024
DOI: 10.1364/OE.19.016601

Abstract

We propose a method for controlling modal gain in a multimode Erbium-doped fiber amplifier (MM-EDFA) by tuning the mode content of a multimode pump. By adjusting the powers and orientation of input pump modes, modal dependent gain can be tuned over a large dynamic range. Performance impacts due to excitation of undesired pump modes, mode coupling and macro-bending loss within the erbium-doped fiber are also investigated. The MM-EDFA may potentially be a key element for long haul mode-division multiplexed transmission.