All-Raman optical amplification for next Generation ultra-wideband Optical Networks (ARGON)

本研究的目的是解决基于拉曼效应的超宽带（UWB）光纤放大器的建模、设计、演示和潜在应用，该放大器是由高功率激光泵浦特殊设计的光纤引起的，用于光纤通信网络的未来应用，范围从数据中心间连接到城域/区域网络。尽管在过去的二十年里，光纤通信系统在数字相干技术的推动下取得了巨大的进步，但互联网流量的年增长率仍保持在20%以上，并且预计在可预见的未来将继续保持强劲的增长势头。目前，运营商及其网络设备供应商认为，通过利用宽的低损耗窗口，提供前所未有带宽的无缝光放大器，是提高全球部署的数十亿公里玻璃光纤的流量承载能力的最实用和最具成本效益的方法。该计划针对全拉曼放大器的两种特定设计：(i)节点定位，仅离散并行，双级设计，以及（ii）混合分布-离散双级设计，利用节点内传输光纤作为部分频谱的增益介质。这些创新的设计得益于最近激光泵功率的提高和新颖的非线性拉曼增益光纤，以及所有网络运营商对拉曼技术越来越普遍的接受，从相对保守的老牌运营商，如Verizon，到更冒险的技术巨头，如谷歌。将开发新的非线性建模工具，以克服和支持制造和操作我们提出的UWB放大器的重大实验设计挑战，该放大器具有300nm带宽，可提供当今网络中使用的标准掺铒光纤放大器带宽的近10倍。关键的光放大器特性，如增益，噪声系数，均匀性和非线性将被单独测量。UWB光纤通信系统的容量改进和性能将在目标网络的代表性模型中进行评估，并由我们的项目合作伙伴告知，并与广泛的在线和循环环路UWB实验室测试进行比较。

The aim of this proposed research is to address the modelling, design, demonstration and potential applications of ultra-wide-band (UWB) optical fibre amplifiers based on the Raman effect, induced by high power laser pumping of specially designed optical fibre, for future applications in optical fibre communication networks, ranging from inter-data-centre connections to metro/regional networks. Despite massive advances in the capabilities of optical fibre communication systems over the past two decades, enabled by digital coherent technology, internet traffic growth remains well above 20% per annum, and is forecast to continue on a strong trajectory for the foreseeable future. Delivering a seamless optical amplifier of unprecedented bandwidth is now seen by operators and their network equipment suppliers as the most practical and cost-effective way to increase the traffic carrying capacity of the billions of km of glass fibre that has been deployed worldwide, by making use of the wide low-loss window. The programme targets two specific designs of all-Raman amplifier: (i) a node-located, discrete-only parallel, dual-stage design, and (ii) a hybrid distributed-discrete dual-stage design, making use of the intra-node transmission fibre as a gain medium for part of the spectrum. These innovative designs are enabled by recent increases in laser pump powers and novel nonlinear Raman gain fibres, and a growing, general acceptance of Raman technology by all network operators, ranging from relatively conservative incumbents, such as Verizon, to more adventurous technology giants, such as google. New, nonlinear, modelling tools will be developed to overcome and support the significant experimental design challenges in manufacturing and operating our proposed UWB amplifiers, which with 300nm bandwidth offer approaching 10x the bandwidth of standard Erbium-doped fibre amplifiers used in today's networks. Key optical amplifier characteristics such as gain, noise figure, uniformity and nonlinearity will be measured stand-alone. UWB optical fibre communication system capacity improvements and performance will be evaluated in representative models of target networks, informed by our project partners, and compared with extensive in-line and recirculating loop UWB laboratory-based tests.