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Hybrid EDFA/SOA amplifier design for CWDM network

Research · January 2016

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.1374.7285

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JOURNAL OF OPTOELECTRONICS AND ADVANCED MATERIALS Vol. 17, No. 11-12, November – December 2015, p. 1880 – 1884

Hybrid EDFA/SOA amplifier design for CWDM network

M. A. MUTHALIBab, N. ARSADa,c*, A. A. EHSANc, S. SHAARIc
a
Department of Electrical, Electronic and System Engineering, The National University of Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
b
Departmen of electrical Enginerring, Malikussaleh University, 24351, Lhokseumawe, Aceh Utara, Indonesia
c
Photonics Laboratory, Institute of Microengineering and Nanoelectronics, The National University of Malaysia,
Selangor, Malaysia

In this experiment we propose a coarse wavelength division multiplexing (CWDM) transmission system that uses a new
hybrid, two-stage EDFA/SOA amplifier. The hybrid amplifier is a combination of cascaded erbium-doped fiber amplifiers
(EDFAs) and semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs). This amplifier design is capable of providing a nearly flat gain of over
80 nm. The hybrid amplifier had been modeled using an OptiSystem version 9 modeling tool produced by OptiWave and is
integrated into a CWDM transmission system with two spans of 100 km transmission distance.

(Received September 22, 2015; accepted October 28, 2015)

Keyword: Coarse wavelength division multiplexing; Semiconductor optical amplifier; Erbium doped fiber amplifier; Optical fiber.

1. Introduction 2. Experimental set-up

A transmission system will experience losses when it We thrive to compare the performance of EDFA and
travels a long distance of 100km or more. In order to SOA for the application in CWDM system. Union of
transmit signals over such distances (≥100km), it is EDFA and SOA in a hybrid amplifier design are suitable
important to compensate for the attenuation losses in the for presenting an amplification spectrum covering the s, c,
fiber [1]. Usually a signal drop in the telecommunication and l band [8]. SOA possesses the advantages of wide
system will affect the operation of the system. Thus, an bandwidths, cost-effective multi-channel system, and also
optical amplifier [2, 3] is needed in the system. Optical suitability for metro space that makes it favorable to the
amplifier is a device capable of increasing the capacity, CWDM system [9,10].
lengthen the span, and multiply the connectivity of optical The standard usage of EDFA amplification band
communication networks. Previously, losses in the system within the range of 1530 nm to 1560 nm (or simply known
were minimized by placing a repeater at every 30 to 50 km as C-band) is vastly applied in long-haul optical fiber
distances. A repeater is a device used to increase or boost communication systems due to the resulting gain being
the signal by firstly converting the light signal into an more than 20 dB [11].
electrical signal, and subsequently re-clocking and re- For an amplifier to effectively be one of the elements
transmitting the signal by converting the electrical signal that will increase the performance of any communication
back into its optical state. systems, it needs to own three major characteristics; i)
Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing (CWDM) high gain, ii) low noise, and iii) flat amplification profile
is a multiplexing scheme where multiple wavelength [7].
signals are combined into a single fiber optic cable without
any interference [4]. By using the CWDM technology, the
optical fiber becomes a simpler transport alternative and
cost-effective solution to add more services over a single
exiting without interrupting other services to existing
customers. The CWDM operates at a higher bandwidth as
compared to the Wavelength Division Multiplexing, where
the operation wavelength span from 1271 nm up to 1611
nm which covers 18 CWDM channels with a channel Fig 1: The proposed S and C- band amplifier modules
spacing of 20 nm [5]. In this experiment, a basic 8-channel composing of an SOA and EDFA.
CWDM system having a wavelength range of 1470 nm to
1610 nm with 20 nm spacing, 80 km transmission Fig. 1 shows the proposed hybrid optical amplifier
distance, an a bit rate of 100 Mb/s using SMF fiber optic is using EDFA and OSA will encompass the range of S to C
investigated [6]. We use two amplifiers namely EDFA and bands, with its designing and modeling processes are done
Semiconductor Optical Amplifier (SOA) to amplify the using the OptiSystem version 9 optical network simulator
system. tool produced by Optiwave.
 Hybrid EDFA/SOA amplifier design for CWDM network 1881

This experiment is done using an 8-channel CWDM

system having a wavelength range of 1470 to 1610 nm and
uses a hybrid EDFA/SOA amplifier within the system.
Figure 3 shows the set-up of the EDFA/SOA hybrid
amplifier in two phases for the CWDM system using
OptiSystem.
Fig 2: Network layout of CWDM system with the hybrid
SOA-EDFA amplifiers.

Fig. 3. Network layout of CWDM system with hybrid optical amplifiers are designed and modeled using an
optical network simulator tool, OptiSystem version 9 by Optiwave.

In the system, the set up of the hybrid amplifier is in a cascade manner by the hybrid amplifier. However, the
divided into two parts; the first one deals with the given gain cannot reach the whole area of the L band
strengthening of the S band and the C band, while the causing the strengthening gain to be less pronounced in the
second part focuses on strengthening the L band. The S band, thus reinforcement is needed on the service area of
band and C band are supported by the SOA and EDFA the L band. In the simulation mode setting, the SOA
respectively, while the L band strengthening is performed amplifier is set to operate at a bias current of 0.13 A, an
1882 Muchlis Abdul Muthalib, Norhana Arsad, Abang Annuar Ehsan, Sahbudin Shaari

energy band gap wavelength with a maximum center form. During the experiment, the values in the simulator
wavelength of 1510 nm, and a center unit frequency noise were set to match the real system.
of 1490 nm. The EDFA on the other hand is set to a length From the experiment, it is observed that increasing the
of 10m, with a wavelength of 980 nm and a pump power power source or bit rate without the support of the network
of 50 mW. will cause the system to reach its saturation point
expeditiously. This causes the results generated from the
system to be unreliable. Hence, we try to improve the
3. Result and Discussion system by adding a hybrid amplifier consisting of EDFA
and SOA with each amplifier exhibits dissimilar
Fig. 4 shows that the data and voice are sent from a characteristics and way or working. The receiver can
distance of 100 km with a wavelength range of 1470 nm to receive input power from the system at a minimum value
1610 nm and a varying bit error rate between 100 Mb/s of -25 dBm. However, in this experiment we try to cover
and up to 2.5 Gb/s. three bands namely s, c, and l bands, aiming to increase
the gain and lower the noise levels for the purpose of
providing a good service to the user. We use of the
amplifiers in a cascading order to improve the service gain
of the CWDM system.

Fig 4: CWDM implementation with different rates for FTTH

Fig 5: Gain spectra of EDFA amplifier over the bandwidth
networks application.
of 1530 to 1570 nm.
Table 1. Data Simulation according to CWDM system.

OLT Wavelength Tx Mux Fiber Rx Fig. 5 shows the gain spectra of the EDFA having
(nm) Power Power Power Power 1000 mA input power in the experimental setup. The gain
(dBm) (dBm) (dBm) (dBm) that can be provided by the EDFA may reach up to 45 dB.
Ch 1 1470 -2.17 -28
Ch 2 1490 0.5 -22
EDFA support the second part of the system by amplifying
Ch 3 1510 -3.79 -25.42 output gain from the SOA and hence allows from a
Ch 4 1530 -3.3 -23.9 transmission length that can reach up to 100 km.
1.35 -10.68
Ch 5 1550 -3.3 -24.1
Ch 6 1570 -1 -23.05
Ch 7 1590 -2.3 -23.9
Ch 8 1610 -3.28 -24.8

To improve the quality of a long-haul

telecommunication system, it requires not only a proper
amount of power source, but also the integration of
amplifiers to boost the signal and minimize loss. Table 1
shows the output power of all 8 channels in the CWDM
system. It can be seen that each channel produces different
output power, but they all experience huge power
reduction as compared to the power source that will
greatly affect the quality of the system. By adding
amplifiers into the system, mistakes caused by weakness Fig 6: Gain spectra of SOA amplifier with input power
and high noise level within the signal can be reduced, 400 mA current level over the bandwidth of 1470 to
hence guarantee that the user will get the signal in its best 1510 nm by real system.
 Hybrid EDFA/SOA amplifier design for CWDM network 1883

Fig. 6 shows the spectra gain of SOA with an input power of 400 mA and a center wavelength of 1490 nm.

Fig. 5. Gain versus wavelength for cascaded SOA-EDFA configuration by simulator.

Fig 8: Gain versus wavelength for cascaded SOA-EDFA configuration by real system.

Hybrid amplifier is proven to be capable of giving Fig. 8 shows the result obtained from the hybrid
effective output gain in the system, subsequently allowing amplifier experiment which uses two amplifiers, EDFA
the system to greatly lengthen its transmission distances. and SOA in a cascading manner. The system is expected
Figure 7 depicts the hybrid amplifier’s simulation result. It to provide service gain in the wavelength range of 1470
shows that there is a decrease in the overall power gain nm until 1610 nm, as this is the range where gain flatness
due to the difference in characteristics between EDFA and will take place. However the service gain in the c band
SOA. between 1470 nm until 1490 nm appears to be very weak
Gain is produced starting from the wavelength of due to a drop in the gain strength over a distance of 40 km
1470 nm and up until the wavelength of 1535 nm. In term but still stays within the adequate signal strength level.
of the flatness of the gain, the gain flattening occurs at Between 1510 nm until 1570 nm, the signal strength is
different points from the total gain of the hybrid amplifier. good as a result of output signal from SOA being re-
At the area where the service gain of EDFA and SOA amplified by the EDFA. While between 1580 nm until
overlaps, the gain will experiences drop in accordance to 1610 nm, the re-amplified signal by the EDFA once again
the nonlinear characteristic of the amplifiers. Although the experience drop in strength as it passes the 40 km distance
gain in the system is not uniform, the overall optical mark in the l band. All the issued output signals are then
amplification in the hybrid amplifier can increase the forwarded to the user.
performance of the CWDM system for operation distance
of up to 100 km in particular.
1884 Muchlis Abdul Muthalib, Norhana Arsad, Abang Annuar Ehsan, Sahbudin Shaari

4. Conclusion [5] A. A.-D. a. H. A.-R. S. Al-RUBAYE, International

Journal of Communications, Network and System
In this experiment we demonstrate a CWDM system Sciences, 2, 636 (2009).
that uses a hybrid amplifier consisting of cascading EDFA [6] J. D. Downie, et al., "10.7 Gb/s CWDM system
and SOA that span over the length of 100 km, with transmission with 8 channels 140 nm bandwidth over
uniform performance of 0 dBm power penalty in the 120 km using two SOAs," in Optical Fiber
simulation system and 80 km in the experimental setup Communication Conference, 2006 and the 2006
respectively. The proposed hybrid amplifier design National Fiber Optic Engineers Conference. OFC
enables a nearly flat gain over a broad transmission 2006, 2006, p. 3 pp.
spectrum, and some of the saturated output powers are [7] J. B. Rosolem, et al., "Comparative analysis of
produced at the wavelength of 1550 nm or higher. optical amplifiers for CWDM networks," in
Microwave and Optoelectronics Conference, 2007.
IMOC 2007. SBMO/IEEE MTT-S International,
Acknowledgement 2007, pp. 34-37.
[8] Kamelian. (January 2003). Semiconductor Optical
The main author ( Muchlis abdul muthalib) is grateful Amplifiers (SOAs) as Power Boosters, [online].
to the project leader for the financial support and authors [9] P. Seoijin, et al., Photonics Technology Letters,
also are grateful to Photonics Lab for providing the IEEE, 17, 980 (2005).
laboratory facilities to carry out the research. [10] H.-J. Thiele, et al., "Linear Optical Amplifier for
Extended Reach in CWDM Transmission Systems,"
in Optical Fiber Communication Conference,
Reference Atlanta, Georgia, 2003, p. MF21.
[11] A. A. E. Muchlis Abdul Muthalib., Sahbudin S.,
[1] G. P. Agarwal. (2010). Fiber Optic Communication Norhana A., Australian Journal of Basic and Applied
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[2] D. R. Zimmerman, L. H. Spiekman, Lightwave
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[3] E. Desurvire. (March 1994). Erbium-Doped Fiber
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[4] A. A. E. Muchlis Abdul Muthalib., Sahbudin S.,
Norhana A., Australian Journal of Basic and Applied ____________________________
*
Sciences, 8(19), 2014. Corresponding author: [email protected]
[email protected]

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