Raman amplifier system, apparatus and method for identifying, obtaining and maintaining an arbitrary raman amplification performance

摘要

A Raman amplifier (100), system and method using a plurality of pumps configured to pump light into an optical fiber (2) so as to Raman-amplify an optical signal propagating through the optical fiber. The Raman amplifier (100) also includes an optical coupler (13) configured to optically interconnect the pumping device (1) with the optical fiber (2), and a control unit (4) configured to control the pumping device (1) so as to achieve a target amplification performance. Further, the control unit (1) monitors the Raman-amplified WDM signal and determines if the monitored Raman-amplified WDM signal is within an allowable tolerance of the target amplification performance. If the Raman-amplified signal is not within the allowable tolerance, the control unit (1) actively controls the pumps to bring the monitored Raman-amplified signal within the allowable tolerance of the target amplification profile.