A simple control algorithm for wide-band channel-power clamped EDFA

A simple control algorithm for wide-band channel-power clamped erbium doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) based on a multi-stage configuration with an inserted variable optical attenuator (VOA) was proposed; the linear relationships between the input power and the pump power as well as the attenuation of VOA were demonstrated theoretically and experimentally. As an example, a four-stage channel-power clamped EDFA with 12 dB of dynamical gain varying from 24.3 to 36.2 dB over 34 nm wavelength ranging from 1527 to 1561 nm (fluctuation < 1.0 dB) for channel's input power varying from -18 to -30 dBm and total input power varying from -3 to -22 dBm was demonstrated experimentally. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.