Cable Capacity and Cost/Bit Modeling of Submarine MCF Systems With MC-EDFA Alternatives

We model and examine various amplification options for trans-oceanic repeatered submarine systems using multicore fiber (MCF) transmission in the context of relative cable capacity and relative system cost/bit. First, we compare the optical performance of various configurations of parallel standard single-core erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (SC-EDFAs) and multicore erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (MC-EDFAs), including both the C/L-bands and core/cladding pump designs. Key amplifier parameters governing expected capacity and cost/bit performance include noise figure, amplifier bandwidth, relative electrical-to-optical conversion efficiency, and relative amplifier cost. We make our best estimates of these parameters through modeling, analysis, and component cost estimates and assess the sensitivity of the results to the nominal values. We find that MC-EDFAs using either core- or cladding-pumping might offer lower cost/bit than parallel SC-EDFAs but cladding-pumping may reduce cable capacities due to the higher noise figure and potentially smaller amplifier bandwidth.