POWER REQUIREMENTS FOR ERBIUM-DOPED FIBER AMPLIFIERS PUMPED IN THE 800, 980, AND 1480 NM BANDS

We examine the relative merits of exciting Er3+ amplifiers at the three wavelengths for which high-power laser diodes are available at 800, 980, and 1480 nm. Model calculations are confirmed by a detailed experimental comparison of the power requirements for pumping in the 800-nm band and at 980 nm. To obtain comparable performance with respect to gain and noise figure, 7-8 dB more power is required when pumping in the 800-nm-band.