High-power (+24 dBm) double-clad erbium-doped fibre amplifier for WDM applications in the C-band (1528 nm-1562 nm)

Summary form only given. The per-channel line-rate of wavelength-division-multiplexed (WDM) systems operating in the C-band (from /spl lambda/=1528 nm to /spl lambda/=1562 nm) is going to be up-graded to 40 Gbit/s. Therefore, higher signal powers will be required and may result in a need for total amplifier output powers exceeding +23 dBm. Owing to a reduced multimode core diameter and an optimisation of the pump wavelength, a high power performance is demonstrated here in the C-band with an Yb-free cladding pumped EDFA compatible with broadband WDM applications.