On the design of few-mode Er-doped fiber amplifiers for space-division multiplexing optical communications systems

Long-haul optical communications links based on space-division multiplexing use space as the final degree of multiplexing freedom, possibly exploring the modal orthogonality in a few-mode fiber (FMF). However, if conventional EDFAs are used, each mode will experience a different value of optical gain, on account of distinct field profile configurations. This lack of gain equalization imposes difficulties for mode demultiplexing and may impair the system performance. The FMF-EDFA designer should define Er doping and/or refractive index profiles, as well as the pumping configuration, to provide the best possible mode equalization of optical gain and noise figure. In the case of the FMF-EDFA, the problem is involved because each mode contributes with its own set of coupled differential equations. To use this approach to carry out a rigorous optimization procedure is not feasible and typical FMF-EDFAs designs proposed in the literature are empirical. A novel optimization method is proposed here. The definition of a figure of merit related to the equalization of the pump-mode signal overlap integral significantly reduces computation time, allowing the implementation of a multiobjective optimization approach. The results obtained were validated against the solution provided by the full set of rate and propagation equations and we conducted a FMF-EDFA optimization case study. Our double-ring Er doping profile design requires a single 350 mW LP11,p pump to provide a mean gain of 21.6 dB, within 0.6 dB of equalization for each of the four modes considered.