Multiwavelength fiber-amplifier cascades for networks

Summary form only given. The advent of practical optical gain raises the prospect of lightwave networks with dazzling capacities, including large multiwavelength systems. Erbium-doped fiber amplifiers can be arranged in large cascades that deliver strong, well-regulated light levels in single-wavelength networks. However, substantial new challenges arise in amplified multiwavelength networks. We survey means of solving them.<
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