What is BS EN 61290-3 - Noise figure parameters about?
BS EN 61290 is a series on optical amplifiers. An optical amplifier is a device that amplifies an optical signal directly, without the need to first convert it to an electrical signal. BS EN 61290-3 applies to all commercially available optical amplifiers (OAs), including OAs using optically pumped fibres (OFAs based on either rare-earth-doped fibres or on the Raman effect), semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) and planar waveguide optical amplifiers (PWOAs).
The object of BS EN 61290-3 is to provide the general background for the OA noise figure parameters measurements and to indicate those IEC standard test methods for accurate and reliable measurements of the following OA parameters, as defined in IEC 61291-1:
- Noise figure (NF)
- Noise factor (F)
- Multiple path interference (MPI) figure of merit
- Signal-spontaneous noise figure
- (equivalent) spontaneous-spontaneous optical bandwidth (Bsp-sp)
- Forward amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) power level
- Reverse ASE power level
- ASE bandwidth
Who is BS EN 61290-3 - Noise figure parameters for?
BS EN 61290-3 on Noise figure parameters is useful for:
- Telecommunication component manufacturers
- Telecommunication equipment manufacturers
- Design engineers
- Quality control personnel
Why should you use BS EN 61290-3 - Noise figure parameters?
Optical amplifiers are important in optical communication and laser physics. BS EN 61290-3 addresses the measurement of OAs that are to be used for amplifying single channels, that is signals from a single transmitter. Testing of OAs for multichannel use involves additional considerations, such as the number, wavelengths and relative power of the signals, the ability to measure signals simultaneously and to measure the ASE between channels.
The noise figure is one of the most important parameters of an OA. The input noise current is, by definition, the shot noise current caused by the optical input signal. This excludes other noise sources on the input side the output noise current is the sum of five contributions. Each of these contributions can be expressed by a partial noise factor which is signal shot noise factor, Fshot,sig, from shot noise from the amplified input signal, ASE shot noise factor, Fshot,ase, from shot noise from amplified spontaneous emission, signal-spontaneous noise factor, Fsig-sp, from signal beating with ASE, spontaneous-spontaneous noise factor, Fsp-sp, from ASE beating with itself and noise factor from multiple path interference (MPI), Fmpi. BS EN 61290-3 can be used for optical noise figure measurements, as well as for estimating the influence of various parameters in electrical noise figure measurements. BS EN 61290-3 represents a complete noise figure model of an OA. Using BS EN 61290-3 you can specify the general background for the OA noise figure parameters measurements and indicate those IEC standard test methods.
What’s changed since the last update?
BS EN 61290-3:2008 supersedes BS EN 61290-3:2000. BS EN 61290-3:2008 includes a technical change with respect to BS EN 61290-3:2000:
- References have been added to the documents pertaining to multichannel amplifiers
