Raman Amplification Design in WDM Systems

Web ProForum Tutorials
http://www.iec.org
Copyright
The International Engineering Consortium
1/21

Raman Amplification Design in WDM
Systems
Definition
Raman amplification is based on stimulated Raman scattering (SRS), a nonlinear
effect in fiber-optical transmission that results in signal amplification if optical
pump waves with the correct wavelength and power are launched into the fiber.
Overview
This tutorial gives an introduction into the complex design issues of wavelength
division multiplexing (WDM) systems applying Raman amplification. It first
presents an overview of traditional WDM systems, predicts problems that might
arise for future configurations, and shows how Raman amplification could be of
help. Then, a behavioral description of SRS is provided, and repeater designs are
discussed. Finally, several system examples are shown to demonstrate typical
fields of applications of Raman amplification.
Topics
1. Traditional Configuration of WDM Systems
2. How Can Raman Amplification Be of Help?
3. Erbium-Doped Fiber versus Raman Amplification
4. Raman Amplification in Wideband WDM Transmission
5. Raman Amplification to Build Bidirectional WDM Systems
6. Raman Amplification and Fiber Nonlinearities
7. Conclusion
Self-Test
Correct Answers
Glossary

http://www.iec.org
Copyright
2/21

1. Traditional Configuration of WDM
Systems
A typical configuration of a point-to-point WDM system is comprised mostly of
the following:
A number of optical transmitters
An optical multiplexer
Spans of optical transmission fiber, such as standard single-mode fiber
(SSMF)
Optical amplifiers, usually erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs)
Dispersion compensating devices, like spans of dispersion
compensating fiber (DCF) or chirped fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs)
An optical demultiplexer
A number of optical receivers
Figure 1 shows the layout of such a WDM system.
Figure 1. Typical WDM Transmission Link

The dramatically increasing service demand driven by the rapid growth of the
Internet generates new challenges for WDM system designers. Common design
approaches reach their limits, and the usage of comprehensive modeling
techniques becomes more and more important. Additionally, to achieve the
demanding targets created by the application-oriented business developments,
future systems must comply with upgraded performance criteria, such as the
following:
Transmission of higher total data capacities through increased channel
bit rates and number of wavelength-multiplexed channels
Cost-reduction by allowing longer amplifier spacing and, thus,
reduction of the number of EDFAs per optical link

http://www.iec.org
Copyright
3/21

Reduction of signal distortion to allow transmission over longer all-
optical transmission links
There are several new design approaches to meet these criteria, including the
following:
New transmission windows in wavelength domain
New types of optical amplifiers covering a very high signal bandwidth
to increase data capacity
Bidirectional WDM transmission allowing suppression of nonlinear
fiber interactions
All of these techniques require a thorough understanding of the underlying
physical effects and the interplay between diverse optical devices to judge their
impact on system performance measures, using numerical simulation tools.
2. How Can Raman Amplification Be of
Help?
One of the most recent and interesting developments includes the constructive
usage of the so-called Raman effect in optical fibers. A Raman amplifier uses
intrinsic properties of silica fibers to obtain signal amplification. This means that
transmission fibers can be used as a medium for amplification, and hence that
the intrinsic attenuation of data signals transmitted over the fiber can be
combated within the fiber. An amplifier working on the basis of this principle is
commonly known as a distributed Raman amplifier (DRA).
The physical property behind DRAs is called SRS. This occurs when a sufficiently
large pump wave is co-launched at a lower wavelength than the signal to be
amplified. The Raman gain depends strongly on the pump power and the
frequency offset between pump and signal. Amplification occurs when the pump
photon gives up its energy to create a new photon at the signal wavelength, plus
some residual energy, which is absorbed as phonons (vibrational energy) as
shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2. Energy States during SRS

http://www.iec.org
Copyright
4/21

As there is a wide range of vibrational states above the ground state, a broad
range of possible transitions are providing gain. This is shown in Figure 2 by
means of the shaded region. Generally, Raman gain increases almost linearly
with wavelength offset between signal and pump peaking at about 100 nm and
then dropping rapidly with increased offset. Figure 3 shows a typically measured
Raman gain curve. The usable gain bandwidth is about 48 nm.
Figure 3. Typical Raman Gain Curve versus Wavelength Offset

The position of the gain bandwidth within the wavelength domain can be
adjusted simply by tuning the pump wavelength. Thus, Raman amplification
potentially can be achieved in every region of the transmission window of the
optical transmission fiber. It only depends on the availability of powerful pump
sources at the required wavelengths. The disadvantage of Raman amplification is
the need for high pump powers to provide a reasonable gain.
This opens a new range of possible applications. It is possible, for instance, to
partially compensate fiber attenuation using the Raman effect and, thus, to
increase the EDFA spacing. The Raman pump wave can be conveniently placed at
the EDFA locations. This saves costs as less EDFAs are needed on the link, and
the number of sites to be maintained is reduced.
Another application of the Raman effect is given with hybrid EDFA/Raman
amplifiers characterized by a flat gain over especially large bandwidths.
Repeaters can be built that compensate the nonflatness of the EDFA gain with a
more flexible Raman gain. Multiwavelength pumping could be used to shape the
Raman gain such that it equalizes for the EDFA gain shaping.
Also, the Raman effect on its own might be used for signal amplification in
transmission windows that cannot be covered properly by EDFAs. Some
frequency regions of a wideband WDM signal could be amplified by common
EDFA structures, while others are amplified using the Raman effect and proper

http://www.iec.org
Copyright
5/21

pumping. The upgrade of already existing systems by opening another
transmission window where Raman amplification is applied could be an
attractive application.
3. Erbium-Doped Fiber versus Raman
Amplification
Raman amplifiers offer several advantages compared to EDFAs, including the
following:
Low noise buildup
Simple design, as direct signal amplification is achieved in the optical
fiber, and no special transmission medium is needed.
Flexible assignment of signal frequencies, as Raman gain depends on
the pump wavelength and not on a wavelength-sensitive material
parameter of the medium, such as the emission cross-section of dopant
in the erbium-doped fiber (EDF).
Broad gain bandwidth is achievable by combining the Raman
amplification effect of several pump waves that are placed carefully in
the wavelength domain.
However, despite the many advantages of Raman amplification, there can be
some degradation effects. For example, not only the specially launched pump
waves but also some of the WDM channels may provide power to amplify the
other channels. This would result in power exchange between WDM channels
and thus cross-talk leading to signal degradation.
These negative effects occur in unidirectional and bidirectional WDM
transmission. So for accurate analysis of advanced WDM systems, it is crucial to
model all Raman interactions. Additionally, degrading effects like spontaneous
Raman scattering and backward Rayleigh scattering have to be considered.
Table 1 gives an overview of important characteristics of Raman and EDF
amplifiers. Note that hybrid amplification schemes, using Raman and EDF
amplification in concatenation, can be designed to take advantage of both types.

http://www.iec.org
Copyright
6/21

Table 1. Comparison of Raman and Doped-Fiber Amplifier
Characteristics
Characteristic Doped-Fiber Amplifier Raman Amplifier
Amplification Band depends on dopant depends on availability of
pump wavelengths
Amplification Bandwidth 20 nm, more for multiple
dopants/fibers48 nm, more
for multiple pump waves
48 nm, more for multiple
pump waves
Gain 20 dB or more, depending on
ion concentration, fiber
length, and pump
configuration
411 dB, proportional to
pump intensity and
effective fiber length
Saturation Power depends on gain and material
constants
equals about power of
pump waves
Pump Wavelength 980 nm or 1480 nm for
EDFAs
100 nm lower then signal
wavelength at peak gain
Raman amplifiers are topologically simpler to design than doped-fiber amplifiers,
as the existing transmission fiber can be used as a medium if properly pumped.
However, the selection of pump powers and wavelengths, as well as the number
and separation of pumps, strongly determines the wavelength behavior of Raman
gain and noise.
When building distributed Raman amplifiers, designers face the question of
using forward or backward pumping (or even both) with respect to signal
propagation. The backward pumping scheme is most commonly used as it offers
several advantages. Pump noise strongly affects the WDM signals to be amplified
if forward pumping is applied, as the Raman process is nearly instantaneous.
When the Raman pump wave has slight random power fluctuations in time,
which is almost always the case, individual bits might be amplified differentially,
which leads to amplitude fluctuations or jitter. If backward pumping is applied,
power fluctuations of the Raman pump will be averaged out, as each individual
bit will see several milliseconds of the Raman pump wave. Figure 4 shows the
general setup of a backward pumped DRA and the counter-propagation of signal
and pump.
Figure 4. Backward-Pumped Raman Amplifier Showing
Counter-Propagation of Pump Wave and Signal

http://www.iec.org
Copyright
7/21

Hybrid (EDF and Raman) amplification has been used successfully in recent
designs to obtain the necessary optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) for high-
capacity dense wavelength division multiplexing systems (DWDM) or to achieve
very large amplifier spacing in, for example, festoon applications. Figure 5 shows
a possible design of a hybrid EDF/Raman amplifier. The doped fiber is pumped
remotely via the transmission fiber where Raman amplification occurs.
Figure 5. Hybrid EDF/Raman Amplifier

The transversal power distribution of the signal over an amplified fiber span is
strongly dependent on the applied amplification scheme and can be controlled by
the Raman pump power and pump direction. Figure 6 shows the transversal
span power profile employing different hybrid EDF/Raman amplification
schemes.
Figure 6. Span Power Profile for EDFABased Systems (1),
System Using Hybrid Schemes with Backward Raman
Amplification Only (2), and Bidirectional Raman Amplification
(3)

By properly selecting pump laser wavelengths, transmission fiber lengths, and
types, many optimization targets can be reachedflattening of the EDFA gain
through an optimized design of the frequency-dependent Raman gain, for
example. Optimization can be achieved using numerical simulation.

http://www.iec.org
Copyright
8/21

4. Raman Amplification in Wideband WDM
Transmission
This example demonstrates the design of a distributed Raman amplifier for ultra-
wideband WDM transmission, using multiple pumps to achieve a gain flatness
over an 80-nm signal bandwidth as designed after the work of Kidorf et al. As
mentioned earlier, a very wideband flat amplification can be achieved by
selecting launched powers and emission wavelengths of the Raman pumps
properly. Figure 7 shows the general design setup.
Figure 7. Design Setup for Wideband Raman Amplifier
Evaluation

One hundred test carriers are used to sample the Raman gain response over a
bandwidth of approximately 82 nm. Each launched with an average power of 3
dBm into 60 km SSMF. The accumulated fiber attenuation is completely
compensated using the SRS effect of eight counter-propagating Raman pumps.
At the receiver, 100 power detectors are used to evaluate the Raman gain
response at the output of the fiber. Figure 8 shows the optical spectrum at the
receiver. The gain ripple is less than 2 dB over 81 nm. Note that there is still
enough power margin to introduce a gain-flattening filter at the output of the
fiber span to achieve a total gain ripple of less than 0.5 dB.

http://www.iec.org
Copyright
9/21

Figure 8. Optical Output Spectrum after Propagation over 60
km SSMF Applying Backward Raman Amplification Using Eight
Raman Pumps

The average launch powers of the eight Raman pumps vary only between 19.5
and 21.5 dBm. The flat gain response of the amplifier is achieved by selecting the
emission frequencies of the pumps carefully. The eight Raman pumps are spaced
unequally over about 86 nm, with an offset to the WDM signal band of 77 nm to
163 nm, as depicted in Figure 9. Note that the four pumps emitted at the smallest
wavelengths are about equally spaced and that the other four are spaced much
wider.
Intuitively, there are two reasons for this spacing arrangement. First, the Raman
gain response is strongly asymmetrical. It has an almost linear increase for
wavelength offsets between signal and pump of less than 100 nm and then a
sudden decrease after the gain peak (see Figure 3).

http://www.iec.org
Copyright
10/21

Figure 9. Spectral Distribution of the Eight Raman Pumps at the
Backward Input of the Fiber (Red) and the Forward Output of
the Fiber (Blue)

Second, there are strong pump-to-pump interactions, as the Raman pumps are
spaced over 86 nm for which the Raman efficiency is already very large. Pumps
emitted at the very low wavelengths amplify the WDM signal band as well as the
pumps at the higher wavelengths.
Figure 10. Propagation of the Eight Raman Pumps over the
Fiber

Figure 10 shows the pumps' power profile along the fiber. Starting with almost
equal pump powers at the far end of the fiber, the pumps at the higher
wavelengths are first amplified by the pumps at the lower wavelengths. Further

http://www.iec.org
Copyright
11/21

down the fiber, when the power of the low-wavelength pumps is reduced due to
energy transfer to high wavelengths and fiber attenuation, the effect of pump-to-
pump amplification is reduced. As can be concluded from Figure 10, interaction
of the different pump waves is nonnegligible.
5. Raman Amplification to Build
Bidirectional WDM Systems
This example demonstrates the bidirectional WDM signal transmission and
Raman pumping to compensate attenuation in the transmission fiber. Figure 11
shows the design.
Figure 11. Bidirectional DWDM System Exploiting C and L Bands
Using Hybrid EDF/Raman Amplification

In this system configuration, the C band is employed for signal transmission in
one direction and the L band to propagate signals in the opposite direction. The
fiber attenuation is partly compensated by the distributed Raman amplifier.
Accordingly, applying the backward pumping scheme for each band requires the
L-band pump to be placed at the same fiber end as the C-band transmitter and
vice versa. Obviously, this configuration implies the bidirectional pumping.
When modeling such systems, it is crucial that the power exchange between the
co- and counter-propagating signals and pumps (pump-to-pump, pump-to-
signal, and signal-to-signal) is accurately considered. Therefore, simplified
approaches neglecting, for example, pump depletion are not suitable. Accurate
modeling is only possible if all bidirectional interactions are modeled.
Typical signal and pump spectra are shown in Figure 12. The nonflatness of the
signal spectrum is due to the Raman gain shape. It can be overcome with gain
flattening filters placed right after the EDFAs.

http://www.iec.org
Copyright
12/21

Figure 12. Spectrum at Output of Transmission Fiber (Both
Directions)

It is quite interesting to look at Figure 13, which shows the signal and pump
propagation in both directions. The L-band signal launched in the backward
direction at the far fiber end (z = 100 km) experiences a significant Raman
amplification of the backward-propagating C-band pump wave, which is also
launched at the far end. On the other hand, the C-band signal, which is launched
in the forward direction at the near fiber end (z = 0 km) experiences Raman
amplification of the forward-propagating L-band pump. Such signal
amplification by foreign pump waves is possible because of the large bandwidth
of Raman gain. Thus, the signal is amplified two times, one time by the foreign
pump in the vicinity of the launch point and the second time by its own pump at
the fiber output.
This example also shows that careful modeling of pump-to-pump interactions is
of importance. At the far fiber end, the C-band pump significantly amplifies the
L-band pump. Pump depletion of the C-band pump occurs at the near fiber end.

http://www.iec.org
Copyright
13/21

Figure 13. Propagation of C-Band and L-Band Signals and
Pumps

6. Raman Amplification and Fiber
Nonlinearities
This example presents results of a case study investigating the importance of
nonlinear propagation effects when deciding on optimum signal power
conditions. The considered DWDM system is shown in Figure 14.
Figure 14. DWDM System for Investigation of Optimized Span
Input Power Using Different Types of Hybrid EDF/Raman
Amplification

http://www.iec.org
Copyright
14/21

Advantages of hybrid amplification were investigated for a 40-channel DWDM
system. Channels transmit at 10 Gbps and are placed equidistantly 50 GHz apart.
The dispersion map consists of a span of 100 km dispersion shifted fiber (DSF) or
SSMF. The accumulated fiber attenuation is 20 dB. Ideal precompensation of
chromatic dispersion is assumed for both cases.
Three different amplification scenarios are comparedfirst, backward Raman
amplification, second, bidirectional Raman amplification, and third, pure EDF
amplification (with noise figure of 4 dB). The span power profile for the three
scenarios was shown in Figure 6. To investigate impact of fiber nonlinearities on
one hand and amplifier noise on the other hand, channel launch powers are
varied between -5 dBm and 20 dBm. The eye-closure of the central channel (1550
nm) is measured after a receiver unit consisting of optical drop filter, photodiode,
and post-detection filter before and after fiber propagation.
Figure 15 shows the eye-closure penalty versus channel power for the three
investigated amplification schemes after propagation over the DSF.
Figure 15. Eye-Closure Penalty versus Channel Power for
Different Amplification Schemes after Propagation over DSF

Figure 15 clearly indicates optimum values for the channel powers with respect to
eye-closure penalty. At low channel powers, performance is limited by amplifier
noise, while for high channel powers, it is limited by fiber nonlinearities, namely
cross-phase modulation (XPM) and four wave mixing (FWM). Regardless of the
applied amplification scheme, all three penalty curves rise with almost equal
gradient.

http://www.iec.org
Copyright
15/21

The systems using Raman amplification outperform the one using an EDFA by
the optimum achievable eye-closure penalty and the tolerance to power
fluctuations. For the given set of parameters, widest tolerance with respect to the
launch power is found for the case of bidirectional Raman amplification.
For comparison, Figure 16 shows the eye-closure penalty versus channel power
for the three investigated amplification schemes after propagation over standard
SMF.
Figure 16. Eye-Closure Penalty versus Channel Power for
Different Amplification Schemes after Propagation over
Standard SMF

Again, Figure 16 indicates optimum channel powers with respect to eye-closure
penalty. However, there is now a clear difference visible with respect to tolerance
of fiber nonlinearities.
For both considered propagation fibers, the optimum launch powers differ by up
to 7 dBm, depending on the applied amplification scenario. This has an impact on
WDM systems using a high number of channels, as more channels can be
amplified with the same amount of pump power. Also, the minimum values of
eye-closure penalty differ, which indicates that different total transmission
distances are possible.
The results of this example case study show the importance of including
nonlinear propagation effects in the system design process when deciding on
optimum signal and pump powers.

http://www.iec.org
Copyright
16/21

7. Conclusions
First, this tutorial described how Raman amplification could be helpful when
designing future fiber-optical communication systems requiring throughput of
large capacity. Then, a general introduction of the Raman effect was presented,
and advantages of certain amplifier topologies were discussed. With the help of
three application examples, general problems arising from the design of systems
considering Raman amplification were presented. It was shown that careful
modeling of all relevant physical propagation effects is crucial for system design.
Self-Test
1. A Raman amplifier uses intrinsic properties of _____ fibers to obtain signal
amplification.
a. silica
b. erbium
c. pure
d. clear optical
2. The physical property behind DRAs is called _____.
a. EDFA
b. WDM
c. SRS
d. DSF
3. ___________ occurs when the pump photon gives up its energy to create a
new photon at the signal wavelength, plus some residual energy, which is
absorbed as phonons.
a. convergence
b. amplification
c. vibration
d. positioning

http://www.iec.org
Copyright
17/21

4. Raman amplification potentially can be achieved in every region of the
transmission window of the optical transmission fiber.
a. true
b. false
5. The Raman pump wave can be conveniently placed at the ________
locations.
a. SRS
b. EDFA
c. DRA
d. WDM
6. Despite the many advantages of Raman amplification, there can be some
degradation effects.
a. true
b. false
7. Raman amplifiers are ____________ to design than doped-fiber amplifiers,
as the existing transmission fiber can be used as a medium if properly
pumped.
a. conceptually harder
b. more cost-effective
c. topologically simpler
d. more expensive
8. When building distributed Raman amplifiers, designers must use backward
pumping with respect to signal propagation.
a. true
b. false

http://www.iec.org
Copyright
18/21

9. Further down the fiber, when the power of the low-wavelength pumps is
reduced due to energy transfer to high wavelengths and fiber attenuation, the
effect of pump-to-pump amplification is reduced.
a. true
b. false
10. It is not necessary to include nonlinear propagation effects in the system
design process when deciding on optimum signal and pump powers.
a. true
b. false
Correct Answers
1. A Raman amplifier uses intrinsic properties of _____ fibers to obtain signal
amplification.
a. silica
b. erbium
c. pure
d. clear optical
See Topic 2.
2. The physical property behind DRAs is called _____.
a. EDFA
b. WDM
c. SRS
d. DSF
See Topic 2.
3. ___________ occurs when the pump photon gives up its energy to create a
new photon at the signal wavelength, plus some residual energy, which is
absorbed as phonons.
a. convergence

http://www.iec.org
Copyright
19/21

b. amplification
c. vibration
d. positioning
See Topic 2.
4. Raman amplification potentially can be achieved in every region of the
transmission window of the optical transmission fiber.
a. true
b. false
See Topic 2.
5. The Raman pump wave can be conveniently placed at the ________
locations.
a. SRS
b. EDFA
c. DRA
d. WDM
See Topic 2.
6. Despite the many advantages of Raman amplification, there can be some
degradation effects.
a. true
b. false
See Topic 3.
7. Raman amplifiers are ____________ to design than doped-fiber amplifiers,
as the existing transmission fiber can be used as a medium if properly
pumped.
a. conceptually harder
b. more cost-effective
c. topologically simpler

http://www.iec.org
Copyright
20/21

d. more expensive
See Topic 3.
8. When building distributed Raman amplifiers, designers must use backward
pumping with respect to signal propagation.
a. true
b. false
See Topic 3.
9. Further down the fiber, when the power of the low-wavelength pumps is
reduced due to energy transfer to high wavelengths and fiber attenuation, the
effect of pump-to-pump amplification is reduced.
a. true
b. false
See Topic 4.
10. It is not necessary to include nonlinear propagation effects in the system
design process when deciding on optimum signal and pump powers.
a. true
b. false
See Topic 6.
Glossary
DCF
dispersion compensating fiber
DRA
distributed Raman amplifier
DSF
dispersion shifted fiber
DWDM
dense wavelength division multiplexing

http://www.iec.org
Copyright
21/21

EDF
erbium-doped fiber
EDFA
erbium-doped fiber amplifier
FBG
fiber Bragg grating
FWM
four wave mixing
OSNR
optical signal-to-noise ratio
SRS
stimulated Raman scattering
SSMF
standard single mode fiber
WDM
wavelength division multiplexing
XPM
cross-phase modulation

Raman Amplification Design in WDM Systems

Загружено:

Сведения о документе

Оригинальное название

Авторское право

Доступные форматы

Поделиться этим документом

Поделиться или встроить документ

Параметры публикации

Этот документ был вам полезен?

Это неприемлемый материал?

Авторское право:

Доступные форматы

Raman Amplification Design in WDM Systems

Загружено:

Авторское право:

Доступные форматы

Web ProForum Tutorials

Вам также может понравиться