Noise in dual-pumped fiber-optical parametric amplifiers: Theory and experiments
Journal article, 2007

The noise figure (NF) of a dual-pumped parametric amplifier with copolarized pumps is quantified for the first time to our knowledge. It is shown that the NF is increased by the noise on the pump sources, in agreement with theory, and that it gives a uniform NF degradation due to a uniform gain spectrum. The magnitude of the NF degradation increases with increasing input-signal power. Various aspects of the NF are studied, such as the effects of three idlers generated by the four-sideband interaction, and Raman-induced losses and excess noise caused by the population of thermal phonons. It is shown that the use of unequal pump powers only affects the low-power NIT to a minimal degree. Also, the gain dependence of the NF is studied, as are the wavelength and signal power dependences of the NE It is shown that at high gain, the NF saturates even when pump noise is an issue. Also, unequal pump powers with fixed gain have a minor impact on the noise performance of the amplifier. Theory and experiments agree well with each other.

Author

Per Kylemark

Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Photonics

J. Ren

University of California

Magnus Karlsson

Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Photonics

S. Radic

University of California

Colin McKinstrie

Nokia

Peter Andrekson

Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Photonics

Journal of Lightwave Technology

0733-8724 (ISSN) 1558-2213 (eISSN)

Vol. 25 9 2837-2846

Subject Categories

Physical Sciences

DOI

10.1109/JLT.2007.902098

More information

Latest update

2/7/2020 1