Raman amplifiers for broadband communications

Summary form only given. Summary form only given. The spectral response of Raman amplification, being a nonresonant process, is dependent only on the pump(s) frequency and bandwidth. The Raman amplification is frequency shifted by 13.2 THz and has a 3-dB bandwidth of approximately 25 nm in the 1550-nm window. By the proper choice of pump wavelength one can exactly position the Raman spectral shape to control the gain position and/or complement erbium doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) gain. A hybrid erbium/Raman amplifier has recently been demonstrated having a 3-dB gain bandwidth of 67 nm, from 1549-1600 nm.