Ultra-wideband bismuth-based EDFA for DWDM systems

The ultra-wideband DWDM amplification of the lanthanum co-doped bismuth-based erbium-doped fiber (Bi-EDF) amplifier is demonstrated. Over 20 dB of signal gain and NF less than 6.7 dB was achieved for the 50 GHz spacing DWDM signal spreading over 58 nm wavelength range from 1554 nm to 1612 nm, by employing 253 cm long Bi-EDF pumped with 1480 nm laser. The gain remained 18.2 dB at 1616 nm, and 15.7 dB at 1620 nm. The NF at 1620 nm was only 6.6 dB.