Method and apparatus for controlling optical amplifier used for optically amplifying wavelength-division multiplexed signal

摘要

A method and apparatus for controlling gain differences between optical signals, and hence an output of each individual optical signal, in an optical amplifier including a rare-earth-doped fiber for optically amplifying a wavelength-division multiplexed signal. Pumping light is injected into an erbium-doped fiber that is also supplied with additional pumping light that gives a different gain characteristic to the erbium-doped fiber. The output of each signal light is detected by a photodetector and, based on the detected output, injection power is controlled individually for each pumping light.