The state of the art of modern non-SDM amplification technology in agile optical networks: EDFA and Raman amplifiers and circuit packs

Amplifiers are a key enabling technology for all optical networks, including agile networks: line amplifiers, pre-amplifiers and boosters in ROADM nodes, embedded in optical modules. EDFA gain bandwidth in C- and L-band defines the transmission bandwidth in most networks. Raman amplifiers used to provide additional reach and OSNR. In agile optical networks amplifiers need to operate with rapidly changing channel numbers and wavelengths. This paper discusses the recent market evolution of optical amplifiers, current amplification drivers, current status of agile networks, EDFA fundamentals, complexity of agile EDFA, Raman fundamentals, OSRN improvement and Raman amplification, Raman amplifier design, gain and power control, gain switchable amplifier, functional integration, TrueFlex CDC Super Transport Blades, pluggable and transceiver EDFAs, whitebox amplifiers, and data center interconnect.