title: Thulium-doped fiber amplifier for optical communications at 2 µm.
abstract: We report the first experimental realization and detailed characterization of thulium doped fiber amplifiers (TDFAs) specifically designed for optical communications providing high gain (>35 dB), noise figure as low as 5 dB, and over 100 nm wide bandwidth around 2 µm. A maximum saturated output power of 1.2 W was achieved with a slope efficiency of 50%. The gain dynamics of the amplifier were also examined. Our results show that TDFAs are well qualified as high performance amplifiers for possible future telecommunication networks operating around 2 µm.
authors.affiliation: Optoelectronics Research Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK. zl3g10@orc.soton.ac.uk
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Heidt
authors.forename: J M O
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Daniel
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: S U
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Richardson
mesh_terms: D000669:Amplifiers, Electronic; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013685:Telecommunications / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013932:Thulium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D013932:Thulium