Theory and Measurement Techniques for the Noise Figure of Optical Amplifiers

Author: Baney D.M.   Gallion P.   Tucker R.S.  

Publisher: Academic Press

ISSN: 1068-5200

Source: Optical Fiber Technology, Vol.6, Iss.2, 2000-04, pp. : 122-154

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Abstract

The theoretical basis for the noise figure of optical amplifiers is reviewed, and a consistent approach to determining the noise figure of cascaded components is developed. It is shown that when the noise figure is defined in terms of the input and output signal-to-noise ratios, the formulation provides a consistent theoretical formulation for measurement techniques using optical and optoelectronic measurement methods. The paper concludes with a review of measurement techniques for characterization of the noise figure.