Low-noise-figure optical parametric amplifier with a continuous-wave frequency-modulated pump

Abstract

We present what are to our knowledge the first gain and noise-figure measurements of a fiber optical parametric amplifier pumped by a simple frequency-modulated source. The maximum gain was 27.2 dB and the average noise figure was 4.2 dB. We achieved the low noise figure by filtering the pump to remove the broadband amplified spontaneous-emission pedestal on the pump spectrum.