What is BS EN 61290-10-5 - Optical amplifiers about?
BS EN 61290 is a series on optical amplifiers. An optical amplifier is a device that amplifies an optical signal directly, without the need to first convert it to an electrical signal. BS EN 61290-10-5 applies to distributed Raman amplifiers (DRAs). DRAs are based on the process whereby Raman pump power is introduced into the transmission fibre, leading to signal amplification within the transmission fibre through stimulated Raman scattering.
The object of BS EN 61290-10-5 is to establish uniform requirements for accurate and reliable measurements, using an optical spectrum analyser (OSA), of the following DRA parameters:
- Channel on-off gain
- Pump unit insertion loss
- Channel net gain
- Channel signal-spontaneous noise figure
Who is BS EN 61290-10-5 - Optical amplifiers for?
BS EN 61290-10-5 on optical amplifiers is useful for:
- Telecommunication component manufacturers
- Telecommunication equipment manufacturers
- Design engineers
- Quality control personnel
Why should you use BS EN 61290-10-5 - Optical amplifiers?
An optical amplifier may be thought of as a laser without an optical cavity, or one in which feedback from the cavity is suppressed. Optical amplifiers are important in optical communication and laser physics. A fundamental difference between these amplifiers and discrete amplifiers, such as EDFAs, is that the latter can be described using a black-box approach with well-defined input and output ports. On the other hand, a DRA is basically a pump module, with the actual amplification process taking place along the transmission fibre. This difference means that standard methods described in other parts of IEC 61290 for measuring amplifier parameters, such as gain and noise figures, cannot be applied without modification.
The measurement method is largely based on the interpolated source subtraction (ISS) method using an optical spectrum analyser, as described in BS EN 61290-10-5 with relevant modifications relating to a DRA. All numerical values followed by (‡) are suggested values for which the measurement is assured. Other values may be acceptable but should be verified. BS EN 61290-10-5 show the measurement set-up for the measurement of DRA parameters in counter-propagating and co-propagating configurations. The various components comprising the set-up (as well as other components used for calibration) are described. The noise-equivalent bandwidth, Bo, can be calibrated using one of the following two methods, based on the use of either a tuneable narrowband optical source or a broadband optical source. Using BS EN 61290-10-5 you can understand the distributed Raman amplifiers.