IEC 61290-3-2:2008

IEC 61290-3-2
Edition 2.0 2008-07
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Optical amplifiers – Test methods –
Part 3-2: Noise figure parameters – Electrical spectrum analyzer method

Amplificateurs optiques – Méthodes d’essais -
Partie 3-2: Paramètres du facteur de bruit – Méthode de l’analyseur spectral
électrique
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IEC 61290-3-2
Edition 2.0 2008-07
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Optical amplifiers – Test methods –
Part 3-2: Noise figure parameters – Electrical spectrum analyzer method

Amplificateurs optiques – Méthodes d’essais -
Partie 3-2: Paramètres du facteur de bruit – Méthode de l’analyseur spectral
électrique
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
Q
CODE PRIX
ICS 33.180.30 ISBN 2-8318-9898-6
– 2 – 61290-3-2 © IEC:2008
CONTENTS
FOREWORD.3
INTRODUCTION.5
1 Scope and object.6
2 Normative references .6
3 Symbols, acronyms and abbreviations.7
4 Apparatus.8
5 Test specimen .10
6 Procedure .10
6.1 Frequency-scanning technique: calibration.11
6.2 Frequency-scanning technique: measurement.12
6.3 Selected-frequency technique: calibration and measurement .13
6.4 Measurement accuracy limitations.13
7 Calculation .14
7.1 Calculation of calibration results.14
7.2 Calculation of test results for the frequency-scanning technique.15
7.3 Calculation of test results for the selected-frequency technique.15
8 Test results .16
Bibliography.17

Figure 1 – Scheme of a measurement set-up .9

61290-3-2 © IEC:2008 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
OPTICAL AMPLIFIERS –
TEST METHODS –
Part 3-2: Noise figure parameters –
Electrical spectrum analyzer method

FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote
international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To
this end and in addition to other activities, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications,
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8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of
patent rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard IEC 61290-3-2 has been prepared by subcommittee 86C: Fibre optic
systems and active devices, of IEC technical committee 86: Fibre optics.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 2003 and constitutes a
technical revision. It includes updates to specifically address all types of optical amplifiers –
not just optical fibre amplifiers.
This standard should be read in conjunction with IEC 61290-3 and IEC 61291-1.

– 4 – 61290-3-2 © IEC:2008
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
CDV Report on voting
86C/784/CDV 86C/828/RVC
Full information on the voting for the approval of this standard can be found in the report on
voting indicated in the above table.
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
A list of all parts of IEC 61290 series, published under the general title Optical amplifiers –
Test methods, can be found on the IEC website.
The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until
the maintenance result date indicated on the IEC web site under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in the
data related to the specific publication. At this date, the publication will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
61290-3-2 © IEC:2008 – 5 –
INTRODUCTION
This part of IEC 61290 is devoted to the subject of optical amplifiers. The technology of
optical amplifiers is still rapidly evolving, hence amendments and new additions to this
standard can be expected.
Each symbol and abbreviation introduced in this standard is generally explained in the text
the first time it appears. However, for an easier understanding of the whole text, a list of all
symbols and abbreviations used in this standard is given in Clause 3.

– 6 – 61290-3-2 © IEC:2008
OPTICAL AMPLIFIERS –
TEST METHODS –
Part 3-2: Noise figure parameters –
Electrical spectrum analyzer method

1 Scope and object
This part of IEC 61290 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 this standard is to establish uniform requirements for accurate and reliable
measurements, by means of the electrical spectrum analyzer (ESA) method, of the noise
figure, as defined in IEC 61291-1.
The present test method is based on direct electrical noise measurement and it is directly
related to its definition including all relevant noise contributions. Therefore, this method can
be used for all types of optical amplifiers, including SOA and Raman amplifiers which can
have significant contributions besides amplified spontaneous emission, because it measures
the total noise figure. For further details of applicability, see IEC 61290-3. An alternative test
method based on the optical spectrum analyzer can be used, particularly for different noise
parameters (such as the signal-spontaneous noise factor) but it is not included in the object of
this standard.
NOTE 1 All numerical values followed by (‡) are suggested values for which the measurement is assured. Other
values may be acceptable but should be verified.
NOTE 2 A measurement accuracy for the average noise factor of ±20 %(‡), respectively ±1 dB, should be
attainable with this method (see
...