Compact and Highly Efficient Optical Fiber Amplifier Module Pumped by a 0.98 μm Laser Diode

Abstract

Erbium-doped optical fiber amplifiers (EDFA) pumped by laser diodes (LD) are attractive optical devices for 1.5 μm wavelength optical communication systems. 1-3 To date, 1.48 μm LD pumped EDFA modules have been reported.4 However, a high drive current of more than 500 mA is necessary to operate the 1.48 μm LD. In this paper, we report, for the first time, a compact EDFA module pumped by a 0.98 μm LD, which realizes a drastic reduction of LD drive power and a marked increase in amplification efficiency.