Tag Archives: Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifier

Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifier (EDFA) Used in WDM System

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The capacity of fiber optical communication systems has undergone enormous growth during the last few years in response to huge capacity demand for data transmission. With the available wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) equipment, commercial system can transport more than 100 channels over a single fiber. However, increasing the number of channels in such systems will eventually result in the usage of optical signal demultiplexing components with greater values of optical attenuation. Besides, when transmitted over long distances, the optical signal is highly attenuated. Therefore, to restore the optical power budget, it is necessary to implement optical signal amplification. This article may mainly tell you  why EDFA is used in WDM system and how does it work.

Why Use EDFA in WDM System?

EDFA stands for erbium-doped fiber amplifiers, which is an optical amplifier that uses a doped optical fiber as a gain medium to amplify an optical signal. EDFA has large gain bandwidth, which is typically tens of nanometers and thus actually it is enough to amplify data channels with the highest data rates. A single EDFA may be used for simultaneously amplifying many data channels at different wavelengths within the gain region. Before such fiber amplifiers were available, there was no practical method for amplifying all channels between long fiber spans of a fiber-optic link. There are practically two wavelength widows C-Band (1530nm-1560nm) and L-Band (1560nm-1600nm). EDFA can amplify a wide wavelength range (1500nm-1600nm) simultaneously, which just satisfies the DWDM application, hence it is very useful in WDM for amplification.

How Does EDFA Work ?

The basic configuration for incorporating the EDFA in an optical fiber link is shown in the picture below. The signals and pump are combined through a WDM coupler and launched into an erbium-doped fiber (EDF). The amplified output signals can be transmitted through 60-100km before further amplification is required.

EDFA
Erbium-doped fiber is the core technology of EDFA, which is a conventional silica fiber doped with erbium ions as the gain medium. Erbium ions (Er3+) are having the optical fluorescent properties that are suitable for the optical amplification. When an optical signal such as 1550nm wavelength signal enters the EDFA from input, the signal is combined with a 980nm or 1480nm pump laser through a wavelength division multiplexer device. The input signal and pump laser signal pass through erbium-doped fiber. Here the 1550nm signal is amplified through interaction with doped erbium ions. This can be well understood by the energy level diagram of Er3+ ions given in the following figure.

EDFA

Where to Buy EDFA for Your WDM System ?

To ensure the required level of amplification over the frequency band used for transmission, it is highly important to choose the optimal configuration of the EDFAs. Before you buy a EDFA, keep in mind that the flatness and the level of the obtained amplification, and the amount of EDFA produced noise are highly dependent on each of the many parameters of the amplifier. Fiberstore provide many kinds of EDFAs, especially the DWDM EDFAs (shown in the picture below), which have many output options (12dBm-35dBm). Besides, they are very professional in optical amplifiers. Whatever doubts you have, they can give a clear reply.

EDFA

CWDM Technology VS DWDM Technology

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WDM is a technology that is achieved using a multiplexer to combine wavelengths traveling through different fibers into a single fiber. The space between the individual wavelengths transmitted through the same fiber are the basis for differentiating the CWDM and DWDM.

CWDM- Coarse wavelength division multiplexing. WDM systems with fewer than eight active wavelengths per fiber. DWDM – Dense wavelength division multiplexing. WDM systems with more than eight active wavelengths per fiber.

CWDM is defined by wavelengths. DWDM is defined in terms of frequencies. DWDM’s tighter wavelength spacing fit more channels onto a single fiber, but cost more to implement and operate. CWDM match the basic capacities of DWDM but at lower capacity and lower cost. CWDM enable carriers to respond flexibly to divers customers needs in metropolitan regions where fiber may be at a premium. The point and purpose of CWDM is short-range communications. It uses wide-range frequencies and spreads wavelengths far apart from each other. DWDM is designed for long-haul transmission where wavelengths are packed tightly together. Vendors have found various techniques for cramming 32, 64, or 128 wavelengths into a fiber. DWDM system is boosted by Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifier, so that to work over thousands of kilometers for high-speed communications.

Hardware Cost
The cost difference between CWDM and DWDM systems can be attributed to hardware and operational costs. Despite the superiority in terms of cost of DWDM laser with respect to the CWDM DFB laser chilled provide cost effective solutions for long haul and metro rings large capacity demanding. In both applications, the cost of DWDM system is set off by the large number of customers who use this system. Except for encapsulation, the DWDM laser for stabilizing the temperature with a cooler and a thermistor, it is more costly than an uncooled laser coaxial CWDM.

Power Consumption
The energy requirements for DWDM are significantly higher. For example:DWDM laser temperature stabilized through coolers integrated modules encapsulation, These devices together with the associated PIN and the control circuit consumes approximately 4 W of power per wavelength monitor. However, an uncooled CWDM laser transmitter consumers about 0.5w. The transmitter of 8 channel CWDM system consume about 4W of power, while the same functionality in a DWDM system can consume up to 30W. As the number of wavelengths in DWDM systems with increased transmission speed, power and thermal management associated with them becomes a critical issue for the designers.

Because DWDM doesn’t span long distance as its light signal isn’t amplified, which keeps costs down but also limits maximum propagation distances. Manufacturers may cite working ranges of 50 to 80 kilometers, and by signal amplifiers to achieve 160 kilometer. CWDM supports fewer channels and that may be adequate for carrier who would like to start small but expand later when demand increases.

Related article: How to Install Your CWDM MUX/DEMUX System?