Analytical formula for the transient response of erbium-doped fiber amplifiers

Abstract

In wavelength-division-multiplexing systems with optical amplifiers, channel drop or add can cause power changes in the existing channels. We present an analytical formula for the transient power of the existing channels as a function of time when one or more input channel is dropped or added on an erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA). Although this formula was originally derived from perturbation theory of single-stage EDFA's, it is a good approximation of large-power excursion cases as well as two-stage EDFA's.