Gain characterization of all-optical gain-clamped PDFFA for WDM networks using the feedback theory

Using feedback theory, we analyze the gain of an all-optical gain-clamped praseodymium-doped fluoride fiber amplifier (AOGC PDFFA) for eight-channel multiwavelength operation. We demonstrate by numerical simulation that gain stabilization is achieved when the open-loop gain is higher than the feedback path attenuation. Tf this condition is fulfilled, the gain stabilizes to a value equal to the feedback path attenuation and is not influenced by the pump power, input signal power, number of channels, doped fiber length, or any other doped fiber parameter. In our setup the AOGC PDFFA noise figure is 0.12 dB lower than the open-loop PDFFA noise figure.