High performance +23 dBm miniature PM Ho-doped fiber amplifier at 2100 nm

Current progress in infrared LIDAR, atmospheric sensing, and DWDM transmission system experiments highlights the need for large bandwidth, high dynamic range polarization-maintaining (PM) optical amplifiers in the 1900 nm—2100 nm band [1—6]. Amplifiers that can operate efficiently near the high wavelength end of this band at 2090—2100 nm are particularly attractive for many emerging applications. In this paper we present the first simulated and experimental results for a newly developed miniature packaged Ho-doped fiber amplifier that is optimized for operation at 2090—2100 nm and employs high performance single clad PM Hodoped fiber (iXblue IXF-HDF-PM-8-125). Our goal in building a packaged PM Holmium-doped fiber amplifier (HDFA) at 2100 nm is to provide a miniaturized device with output powers of > 200 mW CW, high small signal gain, low noise figure, and large OSNR that can be used in many applications as a versatile wideband preamplifier or power booster amplifier. Our novel miniature HDFA package, shown in the photograph of Figure 1, has dimensions of 97 × 78 × 15 mm3, incorporates full pump control electronics, and communicates via an RS232 interface. The device is fully isolated against external and internal reflections and employs FC/APC connectors for the input and output ports.