Spectrally-efficient L-C band EDFA having a seamless interband channel region using sampled FBGs

We report a method and experimental demonstration for an L-C band silica-based erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) utilizing the entire wavelength range of both the L and C bands with no "dead zone" in between. Sampled fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) are used to split the L and C bands, thereby providing amplification at many discrete wavelengths as well as a sharp transition between the two bands. Optical amplification with negligible power penalty is demonstrated within the interband zone using a 1.6-nm spacing between the highest C hand and lowest L band channels.