20 May 2002 -- HighWave Optical Technologies, Lannion, France, has introduced a new range of erbium-doped fibres. The range comprises two C band and one L band fibres that offer advantages in amplifier performance, cost and productivity, the company claims.
In the new C band fibres, amplifier efficiency has been improved through changes to composition and waveguide parameters. The approach has improved gain flatness by more than 50% compared to Standard EDF, Highwave says.
These new C band fibres contribute largely in today's trend for cost reduction of amplifiers by: saving pumping power through enhanced efficiency; and cutting GFF price through naturally flatter spectral shape
Considering the L-band development, the EXL Band-001 fibre was built around a tuned glass host composition to increase performances. This special core composition enables very high erbium concentration maximizing fibre efficiency. The design stretches the bandwidth with a flatter spectral gain shape. Bandwidth up to 1611nm is now easily achievable.
The EXL Band-001 reduces amplifier cost by several mechanisms, most resulting from the fibre's new core composition:
- Enhanced efficiency means lower pump power.
- Higher absorption means less fibre length per amplifier.
- Flatter spectral shape simplifies GFF design thus saving on GFF cost.
- High fibre uniformity shortens the cycle time during EDFA production.
- More precise simulation parameters save on EDFA engineering time.
To meet growing demand for reduced cladding fibres, Highwave has qualified its production line for this specific process. The company's complete line of photonic fibres is available from stock in the 80µm reduced cladding version, including the latest C and L band fibres.