Distributed fiber Raman amplifiers with localized loss

Backward pumped C- and L-band distributed fiber Raman amplifiers are described, where discrete losses from 0-8 dB were added at various positions to examine the effect of localized loss. Below 3-dB additional loss, the overall optical performance degraded similarly, regardless of loss position in a hybrid Raman and erbium-doped fiber amplifier. Above 3 dB, the performance degradation worsened as the loss position became closer to the signal output. The spectral shape change of the fiber output against loss variation was made tolerable within +- 0.4 dB simply by balancing the output power of L band with that of C band, unless the loss was close to pump input. The tolerance provides design flexibility for hybrid optical amplifiers and allows the use of fixed gain-flattening filters.