Optical Amplifiers For 10 Gb/s WDM Recirculating Loop Testbed

This Master's thesis deals with building experimental setup for characterization of novel nonlinear optical devices for fiber communication. The first part of the thesis deals with the description of the theoretical basis for operation of a particular type of such nonlinear optical devices, namely a parametric amplifier. Document includes deriving and solving the equations for parametric amplification in optical fiber when signal, idler and pump beams are linearly co-polarized. We consider both non-degenerate and degenerate pump cases for arbitrary phase mismatch. In the second part of the thesis we present the design and experimental implementation of electrical interface between commercial ultra-long-haul-system
erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs) and the laser diode drivers and thermo electric coolers used in our lab. We also describe the design and implementation of the electronic controller for EDFA's mid-stage variable optical attenuator that allows us to operate the EDFA at different input signal power levels. The interface and controller described in this thesis make it possible to use these EDFAs in a recirculating-loop testbed for characterization of novel nonlinear-optical devices.