Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for short fiber length multi-core fiber (MCF) Erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs). An enhanced Erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) includes one or more pumps configured to pump light during the amplifying, and a multiple-core fiber (MCF) doped with an active dopant for communicating the signal light within the EDFA during the amplifying. The multiple-core fiber (MCF) is in optical communication with the signal light and is in optical communication with the one or more pumps, where the amplifying included applying a plurality of gain sections, with each gain section associated with a corresponding fiber length, and where applying one or more of the plurality of gain sections including use of one or more loops via one or more corresponding cores in the multiple-core fiber (MCF). The multiple-core fiber (MCF) is an Erbium-doped fiber (EDF).

Abstract: An optoelectronic module includes a housing and a printed circuit board (“PCB”) positioned within the housing. A positioning member is coupled to the PCB and includes one or more receptacles each configured to receive and secure positioning of an optical component relative to the PCB. The positioning member may include a plurality of receptacles positioned relative to one another in an arrangement defining a vertical array of receptacles, a lateral array of receptacles, or both. In one form, an optical component, when positioned in a receptacle of the positioning member, is spaced from the PCB. The positioning member may be formed of a thermally insulative or thermally conductive material, and a number of optical fibers may be routed between the positioning member and the housing.

Abstract: An optoelectronic module includes a housing and a printed circuit board (“PCB”) positioned within the housing. A positioning member is coupled to the PCB and includes one or more receptacles each configured to receive and secure positioning of an optical component relative to the PCB. The positioning member may include a plurality of receptacles positioned relative to one another in an arrangement defining a vertical array of receptacles, a lateral array of receptacles, or both. In one form, an optical component, when positioned in a receptacle of the positioning member, is spaced from the PCB. The positioning member may be formed of a thermally insulative or thermally conductive material, and a number of optical fibers may be routed between the positioning member and the housing.

Abstract: A method of operating a production optical amplifier comprises determining a training data set of amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) values of a training optical amplifier over a plurality of training operating conditions, determining a production data set of ASE values of the production optical amplifier over a plurality of production operating conditions, the plurality of production operating conditions corresponding to a sub-set of the plurality of training operating conditions, determining an adjusted data set of adjusted ASE values produced by extrapolation from the production data set so that the adjusted data set is provided over a plurality of operating conditions corresponding to the plurality of training operating conditions, determining, for each of a plurality of operating conditions, a dynamic ASE tilt factor from the training data set and the adjusted ASE data set so determined, determining a larger data set of ASE values over a wider set of operating conditions than either the training data s

Abstract: Fiber-optic communications systems are provided for optical communications networks. Fiber-optic communications links may be provided that use spans of transmission fiber to carry optical data signals on wavelength-division-multiplexing channels at different wavelengths between nodes. An apparatus and method are disclosed to use one optical light source per node to perform OTDR and LCV to satisfy safety concerns and accelerate the verification of the integrity of optical fiber links, before the application of high Raman laser powered light sources to a fiber link. A system using only one receiver per node is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of operating a production optical amplifier comprises determining a training data set of amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) values of a training optical amplifier over a plurality of training operating conditions, determining a production data set of ASE values of the production optical amplifier over a plurality of production operating conditions, the plurality of production operating conditions corresponding to a sub-set of the plurality of training operating conditions, determining an adjusted data set of adjusted ASE values produced by extrapolation from the production data set so that the adjusted data set is provided over a plurality of operating conditions corresponding to the plurality of training operating conditions, determining, for each of a plurality of operating conditions, a dynamic ASE tilt factor from the training data set and the adjusted ASE data set so determined, determining a larger data set of ASE values over a wider set of operating conditions than either the training data s

Abstract: Fiber-optic communications systems are provided for optical communications networks. Fiber-optic communications links may be provided that use spans of transmission fiber to carry optical data signals on wavelength-division-multiplexing channels at different wavelengths between nodes. An apparatus and method are disclosed to use one optical light source per node to perform OTDR and LCV to satisfy safety concerns and accelerate the verification of the integrity of optical fiber links, before the application of high Raman laser powered light sources to a fiber link. A system using only one receiver per node is also disclosed.

Abstract: A variable gain optical amplifier comprises an EDFA for amplifying optical signals at different wavelengths and a pump driver 14 for optically pumping the EDFA to provide optical gain. An input detector 2 is provided for monitoring the power Pin of input signals to the EDFA, and an output detector 3 is provided for monitoring the power Pout of output signals from the EDFA. A gain control arrangement is provided for supplying a drive signal to the pump driver 14 to control the optical gain including a feed forward arrangement 20, 21, 22, 23 for supplying a feed forward signal dependent on the monitored input power Pin, and a feed back arrangement 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 30 for supplying a feed back signal dependent on the monitored output power Pout.

Abstract: A multichannel optical amplifier having an adjustable gain set point is controlled to permit substantially constant gain tilt control during a gain set-point change so that the channel powers are maintained during system modification. To this end the amplifier comprises an erbium doped fibre (EDF) loop and associated pump amplifier for amplifying an optical signal comprising channels of different wavelengths, a variable optical attenuator (VOA) for controlling the gain of the amplifier by applying a loss profile that varies with wavelength so that the different channels are amplified in accordance with a required gain tilt, preferably a zero gain tilt, and a PI controller for applying a gain tilt adaptation profile to compensate for an inherent gain tilt to produce the required gain tilt.