DYNAMIC GAIN CONTROL SYSTEM FOR OPTICAL AMPLIFIER AND METHOD THEREOF

摘要

The dynamic gain control system includes a pump source providing pump light. The dynamic gain control system measures a certain portion of the input pump lig ht into the optical amplifier and measures a certain portion of the output pump lig ht from the optical amplifier. The dynamic gain control determines the pump light loss b ased on the input pump light and output pump light measurements. Based on the pump light loss, the dynamic gain control system maintains the pump light loss relati vely constant (for example 0.1 dB) independent of the number of input channels and th eir relative powers (for example, input channel powers of-50 dBm to 10 dBm) by providing feedback to control the output pump light. In doing so, the dynamic ga in control system maintains the inversion level of the optical amplifier. A relativ ely constant inversion level corresponds to only small variations in the gains of th e input channels (multi-channel gain) as a result of changes in the input channels to th e optical amplifier.