Er3+-doped channel optical waveguide amplifiers for WDM systems:: A comparison of tellurite, alumina and Al/P silicate materials

Er3+-doped tellurite and Er3+-doped alumina optical waveguide amplifiers are analyzed both as single amplifiers and as elements of 16-channel wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) systems; their performances are compared with that from Er3+-doped AVP silica waveguide amplifiers. The amplifier model is based on propagation and population-rate equations and includes both uniform and pair-induced up-conversion mechanisms. It is solved numerically by combining finite elements and the Runge-Kutta algorithm. The analysis predicts that Er3+-doped tellurite waveguides exhibit improved gain characteristics compared with alumina and A1/P silica waveguides. Using Er3+-doped tellurite waveguide amplifiers, it is suggested that 16 WDM channels may be transmitted to a maximum distance of 4250 km, By using in-line notch gain equalizing filters, the maximum transmission distance can be increased to 5250 km.