All optical wavelength conversion using cross gain modulation in Erbium doped fiber amplifier

An analytical model is developed for a novel all-optical wavelength converter based on cross-gain modulation (XGM) in an Erbium doped fiber amplifier (EDFA). The gain saturation effect of EDFA is utilized to transfer the modulation from the input modulated signal to the unmodulated pump signal. Performance results are evaluated in terms of wavelength conversion efficiency for given parameters of EDFA and wavelength detuning between the pump and input signal. It is found that approximately 0 dB/mW or 100% conversion efficiency can be achieved with XGM based EDFA wavelength converter over a wavelength separation of 70nm between the pump and input signal with length of EDFA of 12m and normalized input pump power of 25. Efficiency is found to be flat over a wide range of wavelength separation.