Planar waveguide amplifier versus BEFL/A for single channel amplification in broad-band communication

Erbium-doped planar waveguide amplifier (EDWA) and Brillouin-erbium fiber laser/amplifier (BEFL/A) can be used as a single channel amplification in a broadband (C- and L-band) communication system. The merits of these two devices determine the preferred choice to be used in the network system. EDWA is miniature in size and it can be monolithically integrated in optical circuits. While, BEFL/A produces a very narrow linewidth of about 1kHz and it can be made to select and amplify individual channel in a closely packed channels with narrow channel spacing.