Efficient optical amplifier using a low-concentration erbium-doped fiber

A gain coefficient of 3.8 dB/mW was achieved for an erbium-doped fiber amplifier pumped by a 1.48 mu m laser diode. The main reasons for the improvement are high NA (0.23) and low concentration (43 p.p.m.). Pump-to-signal energy conversion efficiency was 18% at 3 dB gain compression. A decrease in saturation power with increasing erbium concentration was also demonstrated. In high-concentration fiber, fluorescence at 0.98 mu m due to cooperative upconversion was detected. These results indicate that several kilometers of distributed fiber amplifier with high gain and high output saturation power could be possible, because the absorption coefficient at 1.48 mu m is still two orders higher than the background loss in the 43 p.p.m. fiber.<>