A framework for evaluating the performance characteristics of optical amplifiers by generating a multichannel signal with adjustable optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR). A broadband light source is passed through a reconfigurable wavelength-selective switch (WSS), which is used to slice the spectrum and filter out the necessary wavelength bands. This approach allows to generate a multichannel signal with an arbitrary configuration by specifying the wavelength, bandwidth and power of each channel. The OSNR may be set by adjusting the power of the interchannel bands with the WSS or by using a coupler to combine the generated channels with an additional broadband source that has adjustable output power. The resulting multichannel signal may be used to evaluate the performance characteristics of an optical amplifier with an easily reconfigurable channel assignment without the need for multiple laser sources.
Quick overview of optical amplifier performance at various channel configurations.
Multiple laser sources are not required to evaluate the performance characteristics of an optical amplifier in the context of wavelength division multiplexing systems. Simple reconfiguration of optical channel assignment and their power levels.
Optical amplifiers,wavelength division multiplexing,fiber optical transmission systems,measurements