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International Journal of Engineering & Technology IJET-IJENS Vol:12 No:04

Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifier (EDFA)


for C-Band Optical Communication System
M.A.Othman , M.M. Ismail , M.H.Misran ,M.A.M.Said and H.A.Sulaiman
Abstract One distinct feature of an optical fiber is that

9.

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O
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C
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there is a wide spectral region where signals are transmitted


in optical fiber. Since most light sources used in highcapacity optical communication systems emit narrow
wavelength or less than 1nm, whilst most full-spectrum
fibers for communication application operates in C-band.
Thus, the paper reviews the technology of optical amplifier
in telecommunication network applications. The main scope
of this paper is to implement Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifier
(EDFA) in the range of C-band. The gain and noise figure at
each changes of both length and pump power are observed,
simulated by using OptiSystem software. The EDFA opticalOptical amplifiers have been
amplifier is inserted in the Wavelength Division essential elements for high
Multiplexing (WDM) system to trigger in various inputs at capacity, long-lifespan and
different wavelength in the range between 1538 to 1565nm. multiple
connection
of

optical for communication


network applications, since it
Index Term-- component; EDFA, WDM, fiber length,
compensates loss through
pump power, gain, noise figure.
transmission of information
via transmission medium, the
M.A.Othman is serving in
passive components and the
Centre for Telecommunication Research and
power
division
for
Innovation Fakulti Kej. Elektronik dan
connectivity of multiple
Kej. Komputer
points[1]. WDM is basically
Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka
a fiber optical transmission
76100 Durian Tunggal, Melaka,
technique, which multiplexes
Malaysia
many signals of different
azlishah@utem.edu.my
wavelength and is capable of
providing data capacity in
M.M. Ismail is serving in
excess of hundreds of gigabit
Centre for Telecommunication Research and
per second over thousands of
Innovation Fakulti Kej. Elektronik dan
kilometers in a single mode
Kej. Komputer
fiber. At the present, most
Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka
76100 Durian Tunggal, Melaka,
countries in the world have
Malaysia
implemented
Internet
muzafar@utem.edu.my
infrastructure by means of
WDM systems to provide
M.H.Misran is serving in
high bandwidth and a highCentre for Telecommunication Research and
Innovation Fakulti Kej. Elektronik dan
speed Internetservice.
Kej. Komputer
Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka
76100 Durian Tunggal, Melaka,
Malaysia
harris@utem.edu.my

M.A.M.Said is serving in
Centre for Telecommunication Research and
Innovation Fakulti Kej. Elektronik dan
Kej. Komputer
Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka
76100 Durian Tunggal, Melaka,
Malaysia
maizatul@utem.edu.my
H.A.Sulaiman is serving in
Centre for Telecommunication Research and
Innovation Fakulti Kej. Elektronik dan
Kej. Komputer
Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka
76100 Durian Tunggal, Melaka,
Malaysia
asyrani@utem.edu.my

Optical amplifiers applies in


general application such as
in-line optical amplifiers,
preamplifier and power or
booster
amplifier,
plus
devotes
its
crucial
applications
to
carry
information at long distances
of more than 100 km, which
has been an important criteria
for
telecommunication
application.

Today,
most
optical
amplifiers have presented
advanced complex systems
and reduce usage of
repeaters to couple one
fiber cable to another in
order to reduce loss in

transmission, despite the


earlier version introduce
simpler and straightforward
system.
All
optical
amplifiers functions to
increase the power level of
incident light through a
stimulated emission or
optical
power
transfer
process[2].
These
amplifiers are widely used
in WDM networks with
larger channel numbers,
which requires higher total
pump power. The optical
pumps usually are of
semiconductor laser at
output range of 20 33
dBm, in which, might
expose to hazards such as
eye and skin damage risks
and possibility of fiber
explosion in case the beam
are excessive and spread
through edges of fiber, thus
lead to fiber fuse effect as
well. The other challenge
that might be faced by the
optical system design is the
noise
generation
of
amplifiers, not only that; it
has to deal with non-linear
optical
cross-talk
in
transmission fibers [3].
Optical amplifiers mostly
help in extending power
budget,
thus
reduces
number of connectivity
points. Optical amplifiers
also are designed to lessen
the effects of dispersion and
attenuation, which allows
improved performance for
long-haul optical systems.
The amplifier system also
replaces the old technology
of electronic regeneration
systems through conversion
from electrical to optical(E
O) and conversion of
optical to electrical(O E)
to carry information for
long
distance
communication.

48

This paper project shows several differences power in milliwatt.


in gain and noise figure in different pump
Two transmitter

1214104-8383-IJET-IJENS August 2012 IJENS

IJENS

International Journal of Engineering & Technology IJET-IJENS Vol:12 No:04


pump
powers.
points provides 32 ports, with variety ofdifferent
Figure
2
show
the
gain
wavelength at range of 1538nm until 1565nm.
variation
of
each
channel
for
This paper also analyzes the suitable fiber length
in EDFA and the pump power to use in thedifferent pump powers at a
designed WDM system. The distinct differenceconstant input power of
also determines the most suitable photodetectors to -26dBm, whereas Figure 3
be used at the receiver point of the opticalshow the NF variation of
each channel for different
amplifier circuit.
pump powers at a constant
35. METHOD ANALYSIS
input power of -26dBm. The
The software Optisystem is used as a simulation tool gain is directly proportional
to simulate the design for EDFA in the WDM system. to the pump power whereas
NF
is
inversely
The system consists of two input transmitter (16-the
channel WDM transmitter each),ideal multiplexer, proportional to the pump
two isolators, a pump laser, erbium doped fiber,power. As the pump power
demultiplexer, two photodetector PIN filter, two increases, the gain increases.
photodector APD, optical power meter, optical But, the NF decreases as the

49
pump power increases. The
pump power of 50mW has
low gain and higher NF,
which show that it does not
offer good performance for
the system. By comparing
Figure 3 and Figure 4, pump
power of 250mW is chosen
due to its high gain and low
NF. Figure 5 show the bit
error rate (BER) pattern at
channel 14 in the first WDM
transmitter forAPD with shot
noise, APD without shot
noise, PIN with shot noise
and PIN without shot noise.

spectrum analyzer, low pass Bessel and 3R


regenerator . The channel of WDM transmitter
technique using non-return to zero (NRZ) modulation
format will be constructed.

The two input of the system is 16 equalized


wavelength multiplexed signals in the wavelength
region
of
12nm(1538nm-1550nm)
and
15nm(1550nm-1565nm) with frequency spacing is
0.8nm and 1nm. The power of each channel is
-26dBm. The optical isolator is also used to
achieve stable amplifier operation, which
functioned to blocks the reflected light into the
amplifier. In order to pump the erbium ions up to
an upper energy level, there are several proper
pump wavelength bands. So, the pumping at
980nm is used to excite the doped atoms to a
higher energy level. Otherwise, reflected ASE
would reduce the population inversion, hence
reducing the gain and increasing the noise figure.
The output isolator prevents light from output
reflections re-entering in the EDFA.

Fig. 1. Variation of output power


along the fiber length for different
pump power at a constant input
power.

The receivers generally consist of a photodetector


APD, photodetectorPIN, low pass Bessel filter and
BER analyzer. The photodetector convert the optical
signals to electronic signals which a processed to
extract information. The characteristic of a
photodetector is low noise preamplifier and other
associated circuitry. Two photodetectors use are PIN
photodiodes
and
avalanche
photodiodes
(APDs).Photodetector PIN performs conversion from
optical to electrical domain. An avalanche photodiode
(APD) is set to capture the signal with the highest
level. Low Pass Bessel Filter is limits the noise
power. Besides, BER Analyzer is a universal
visualization component for performance indicators,
which analyzed and show the BER, Q-Factor, Eye
Height and the threshold. Finally, the system is
connected and simulated.

61.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

The pump power is varied to measure the output


power for the different fiber length at a constant
input power of - 26dBm. The result is shown in
Figure 1. It is observed that when the pump power
increased, the output power increased as well. The
optimum value of the fiber length is found to be
7m. The fiber length of 7m is set as the reference
length. In order to find the suitable value of pump
power, the gain and noise figure (NF) for the
multichannel amplification is investigated at

Fig. 2. Gain variation of -26dBm


per channel amplification for
different pump powers.

Fig. 3. NF variation of -26dBm per


channel for different pump powers.

1214104-8383-IJET-IJENS August 2012 IJENS

IJENS

International Journal of Engineering & Technology IJET-IJENS Vol:12 No:04


APD with shot noise

photodetector of APD is
more suitable in this
designed system.

APD without shot noise

IV.
CONCLUS

50
NT

Authors would like to thank


Universiti Teknikal Malaysia
Melaka for their support in
term of financing to this
project.
REFE

IONS

The objectives of this project


has been achieved where the
result analysis suggest that
the optimum length of EDFA
fiber length will be 7m since
it gives a highest output
power to WDM system
compare to other value of
PIN
with
shot
noise
PIN without shot noise
length, a pump power value
of 250mW since this value
can be supplied into WDM
system while providing a
high gain and low NF. In
preamplifier, the signal is
suggested to be as high as
can so it can travel further
with using fewer repeaters to
regain the signal back.
Even though this research
stated the highest gain and
lowest NF that possible can
be achieved, in real life the
value
might
be
very
Fig. 4. BER pattern
different. This is because of
The minimum BER obtained for APD without shot an occurrences of other
noise is the same as PIN without shot noise, while the losses such as thermal noise,
APD and PIN with noise give the slightly higher dispersions such as cable
value of BER. The average of the BER for this splicing effect and cable
system is 10-8 which shows an acceptable bending effect that will give
performance for the WDM system. Although the eye a huge contribution in lower
pattern look the same, but the eye height is different. value of gain and higher NF
The eye height of APD is larger than PIN in the signal compare to this
photodector, which means that the signal through PIN project achievement.
photodetector encountered more distortion than the
signal through APD photodetector. Therefore, the

1214104-8383-IJET-IJENS
August 2012 IJENS

RENC
ES

[1] Paul

Urquhart, Oscar Garcia


Lopez, Optical Amplifiers for
Telecomunication,
IEEE,
2007

[2] Gerd

Kaiser, Optical Fiber


Communication,
McGraw
Hill International Edition 2010,
pp 398 421.

[3] J. Hansryd, P.A. Andrekson, M.


Westlund,
J.
Li,
P.O.Hedekvist, S,A, "FiberBased Parametrics and their
Applications", IEEE Selected
Topics in Quantum Electronics,
8 (3), 506-520, (2002

[4] E.

Desurvire, "Erbium-Doped
Fiber Amplifiers: Principles
and Applications", Wiley,
(1994).

[5] Dr.

Neena Gupta Inderpreet


Kaur, "A Novel approach for
performance improvement of
DWDM systems using TDFAEDFA configuration," IJECT,
vol. I, no. 1, December 2010.

ACKNOW
LEDGME

I
J

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