Optical communication is the use of light to transmit information over long distance.

In optical fiber
communication, light signals are transmitted through the optical fiber for very large distances without
signal attenuation. However, when transmission distances become hundreds of kilometers, some signal
loss will occur. In order to compensate this optical signal loss, we need to amplify the optical signals. For
amplifying the optical signals, we use a device called optical amplifier. Optical signal amplifiers provide
amplification of optical signals by using a method called stimulated emission of photons. The most
common type of optical amplifiers are EDFA. EDFA stands for Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifier.

In the past, if we want to increase the optical signal transmission distance, optical regenerator station is
required to install in the fiber optic link for every 80 km to 100km. The regenerator station will
electronically regenerate the optical signals to overcome the optical signal loss due to the attenuation of
optical fiber. However, installing the regenerator station requires a lot of money and is not easy to
upgrade the whole network.

With the advent of optical amplifiers, things become much easier. The optical amplifiers can extend the
optical signal transmission distance without the need of regenerator station. In addition to this, the
network upgrading is cost effective with optical amplifiers.

The working principle of EDFA is same as that of lasers excepting that EDFA do not require a cavity
where as cavity is required for laser oscillation.

EDFA Definition

EDFA (Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifier) is an optical device used to compensate optical signal attenuation
caused by fibers and components, to increase optical transmission distance.

Or

EDFA is an optical device that amplifies the optical signals without optoelectronic and electro optical
conversion.

Or

EDFA is an optical amplifier that amplifies the optical signal directly, without the need to first convert it
to an electrical signal.

EDFA (Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifier) is an optical device used to compensate optical signal attenuation
caused by fibers and components, to increase optical transmission distance.

EDFA is used in C-band and L-band. C-band wavelength range is from 1530 nm to 1565 nm. C-band
stands for conventional band. It is the most important wavelength band used for long distance optical
communication, because the attenuation of optical signal is very low in the C-band. L-band wavelength
range is from 1565 nm to 1625 nm. L-band stands for long-wavelength band. It is the second most
important wavelength band used for long distance optical communication, because the attenuation of
optical signal is very low in the L-band after C-band.

EDFA amplifies multiple optical signals simultaneously. It is capable of directly amplifying optical signals
before transmission of it in optical fiber.

EDFA types
EDFA amplifiers are of three types based on their purpose:

Optical Boost Amplifier (OBA)

Optical Pre Amplifier (OPA)

Optical Line Amplifier (OLA)

Optical Boost Amplifier (OBA)

The optical boost amplifier is placed just after the transmitter. It amplifies the multiplexed optical signals
before sending into optical fiber.

Features of OBA

High input power

High output power

Medium optical gain

EDFA amplifiers are of three types based on their purpose: Optical Boost Amplifier (OBA) Optical Pre
Amplifier (OPA) Optical Line Amplifier (OLA)

Optical Pre Amplifier (OPA)

The optical pre-amplifier is placed just before the receiver, such that sufficient optical power will be
received by the receiver. OPA is designed for optical amplification to compensate for losses in a de-
multiplexer located near the receiver.

Features of OPA

Medium to low input power

Medium output power

Medium optical gain

Optical Line Amplifier (OLA) or in-line amplifier

The optical line amplifier is placed in the middle of the transmission line. It compensates the optical
signal loss caused by the optical fiber. The typical distance between each of the OLA is 40 km, 60km,
80km, or 100km, depends on the requirement. OLA is designed for optical amplification between two
network nodes on the main optical link.

Features of OLA

Medium to low input power

High output power

High optical gain

How EDFA (Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifier) Works

When a normal optical fiber core is doped with trivalent ‘erbium’ ions, erbium doped fiber is formed.
This erbium doped fiber act as a gain medium that amplifies an optical signal. Hence, it is named as
EDFA (Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifier). The erbium doped fiber is pumped with a laser, at a wavelength
of 980 nm or 1480 nm and produce optical gain in the 1550 nm region.

We can’t directly send laser light into EDFA. Before that, laser needs to be multiplexed into the erbium
doped fiber. For that purpose, we use WDM (Wavelength Division Multiplexing) coupler to multiplex
laser into EDFA. After that EDFA is pumped with laser, to achieve optical gain.

We can’t directly send laser light into EDFA. Before that, laser needs to be multiplexed into the erbium
doped fiber.

EDFA uses population inversion technique to achieve optical amplification. Before we jump into EDFA,
first let’s see how the actual laser works. LASER stands for Light Amplification and Stimulated Emission
of Radiation. As the name suggests, laser amplifies the light by using a process called stimulated
emission of radiation.

Shall we go deeper into the concept!

Every object in the universe is made up of tiny particles called atoms. However, atoms are not the
smallest particles in the universe. There are some particles which are much smaller than atoms. These
particles are electrons, protons and neutrons. Combining these particles make an atom. Each atom has a
set of electrons, protons and neutrons. Electrons have negative charge, protons have positive charge
and neutrons have no charge. Protons and neutrons always stick together because of the strong nuclear
force between them.

The protons and neutrons which are stick together are known as nucleus. The overall charge of the
nucleus is positive because of the positive protons (neutrons does not have charge). On the other hand,
electrons have negative charge (opposite charge to protons). As we know that, there exists an attractive
force between the opposite charges. So the electrons always rotate around the nucleus at different
distances because of the electrostatic force of attraction between electrons and nucleus.

The electrons which are revolving at different distances from the nucleus have different energy levels
associated with it. The electrons which are revolving at a very close distance from the nucleus have the
lowest energy level whereas; the electrons which are revolving at a larger distance from the nucleus
have the highest energy level.

The electrons at a larger distance from the nucleus have highest energy level because they reached that
level by gaining additional energy from the external energy sources like light, heat and voltage. This
process of gaining additional energy from the external energy sources to jump into higher energy level is
called absorption of radiation.

The electrons in the higher energy level will not stay for a long time. After a short period of time, they
fall back to the lower energy level by releasing energy in the form of heat or light. This process is called
spontaneous emission of radiation. Laser works based on this concept.
Although, the electrons release energy in the form of light, there is no light amplification in this process.
So the spontaneous emission process is not used to build a laser.

The laser works based on a special process called stimulated emission of radiation. To achieve light
amplification, the number of electrons in the higher energy level (E2) must be greater than the number
of electrons in the lower energy level (E1). In a two level energy system, the population of electrons in
the higher energy level is always lesser than the population of electrons in the lower energy level. In
some cases, the population of electrons in higher energy level will becomes equal to the population of
electrons in the lower energy level. So the two level energy system is not useful for light amplification.

The laser works based on a special process called stimulated emission of radiation. To achieve light
amplification, the number of electrons in the higher energy level (E2) must be greater than the number
of electrons in the lower energy level (E2).

The light amplification is achieved by using a 3 or more energy level system. The greater the energy
levels are, the greater will be the light amplification. For example, a 4 level energy system will produce
more optical gain than the 3 level energy system.

The EDFA is pumped using two laser diodes (bidirectional pumping) or a single laser diode
(unidirectional pumping). The EDFA pumped with a single laser diode is most commonly used. In this
tutorial, EDFA pumped with a single laser diode is discussed.

EDFA is pumped with two different wavelengths of photons: 980 nm or 1480 nm.

EDFA pumped with 980 nm laser diode

The 980 nm wavelength photons have more energy than the 1480 nm wavelength photons. So when the
laser diode pumps the erbium ions with a 980 nm photons, the electrons in the ground state E1 absorbs
sufficient energy and jumps into the excited state E3. The lifetime of electrons in the energy state E3 is
approximately 1 µs, which is very low. So after a short period of time, the electrons in the excited state
E3 will fall into the metastable state or excited state E2, by releasing energy in the form of heat (non-
radiative emission). The lifetime of electrons in the metastable state or excited state E2 is greater than
the excited state E3; so many electrons get populated in metastable state E2. In such case, the
population of metastable state E2 is greater than the ground state E1. Thus, population inversion which
is useful for light amplification is achieved.

After some time, the electrons in the metastable state E2 will fall back to the ground state E1, by
releasing its energy in the form of photons. This process of emission of photons is called spontaneous
emission of radiation. The photons emitted due to spontaneous emission will not travel in the same
direction of incoming photons; instead they travel in random direction. So, these photons produce
noise. Spontaneous emission of radiation is the major source of noise in EDFA.

The photons emitted from metastable state E2 will interact with other metastable state electrons and
forces them to fall back to ground state E1. Thus, two photons are released at a wavelength of 1550 nm.
This process of emission of photons is called stimulated emission of radiation. Likewise, millions of
photons are released by stimulated emission. The wavelength and direction of these released photons
are same as the input light signal. The photons emitted due to the stimulated emission are extra
photons added to the input light signal of same wavelength and direction. Thus, light amplification is
achieved at 1550 nm by using a 980 nm laser diode.

EDFA pumped with 1480 nm laser diode

We know that population inversion cannot be achieved in a two level energy system. However, 1480 nm
laser diode will pumps the photons directly to the metastable state.

We know that population inversion cannot be achieved in a two level energy system. However, 1480 nm
laser diode will pumps the photons directly to the metastable state.

The photons emitted from 1480 nm laser diode will interact with metastable state electrons and forces
them to fall back to ground state E1. Thus, two photons are released at a wavelength of 1550 nm. This
process of emission of photons is called stimulated emission of radiation. Likewise, millions of photons
are released by stimulated emission. The wavelength and direction of these released photons are same
as the input light signal. The photons emitted due to the stimulated emission are extra photons added
to the input light signal of same wavelength and direction. Thus, light amplification is achieved at 1550
nm by using a 1480 nm laser diode.

EDFA block diagram

The block diagram of EDFA is shown in the below figure. The EDFA system consists of input signal (1550
nm), laser diode signal (980 nm or 1480 nm), isolator, WDM coupler, and splice.

The optical input signal of wavelength 1550 nm is sent into the optical fiber. These light signals are
transmitted through the optical fiber for very large distances without signal attenuation. However, when
transmission distances become hundreds of kilometers, some signal loss will occur. To prevent this loss,
we use a laser diode and erbium doped fiber.

EDFA (Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifier) is an optical device used to compensate optical signal attenuation
caused by fibers and components, to increase optical transmission distance.

The laser diode produces light of 980 nm or 1480 nm wavelength which is different from input optical
signal wavelength. This laser light is mixed with the input optical signal by using a device called WDM
(wavelength division multiplexing) coupler. The laser light and optical input signals are sent into the
EDFA fiber. When the laser light interacts with the erbium ions, it stimulates them and produces an
amplified optical signal of same wavelength (1550 nm) and direction of the input signal. This process is
called stimulated emission of radiation. However, some amount of amplified optical signal which travels
in random direction is also produced. This optical signal generates noise in the EDFA system. This optical
signal noise can be reduced by using isolator. The optical isolator allows the transmission of light in
single direction and blocks transmission of light in another direction. It eliminates the unwanted back
reflected optical signal from the output port. The splice is used to join the normal optical fiber and
erbium doped fiber.

Advantages of EDFA

EDFA amplifies the optical signals without optoelectronic and electro optical conversion.

EDFA amplifies multiple optical signals simultaneously.

The optical signal amplification is independent of data rate.

High gain

Low noise figure

Do not require high speed electronics

No distortion at high bit rates.

Applications of EDFA

Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM)