IEC 61290-10-4:2007

INTERNATIONAL IEC
STANDARD
CEI
61290-10-4
NORME
First edition
INTERNATIONALE
Première édition
2007-05
Optical amplifiers –
Test methods –
Part 10-4:
Multichannel parameters –
Interpolated source subtraction method
using an optical spectrum analyzer

Amplificateurs optiques –
Méthodes d’essais –
Partie 10-4:
Paramètres à canaux multiples –
Méthode par soustraction de la source interpolée
en utilisant un analyseur de spectre optique
Reference number
Numéro de référence
IEC/CEI 61290-10-4:2007
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INTERNATIONAL IEC
STANDARD
CEI
61290-10-4
NORME
First edition
INTERNATIONALE
Première édition
2007-05
Optical amplifiers –
Test methods –
Part 10-4:
Multichannel parameters –
Interpolated source subtraction method
using an optical spectrum analyzer

Amplificateurs optiques –
Méthodes d’essais –
Partie 10-4:
Paramètres à canaux multiples –
Méthode par soustraction de la source interpolée
en utilisant un analyseur de spectre optique
PRICE CODE
Q
CODE PRIX
Commission Electrotechnique Internationale
International Electrotechnical Commission
МеждународнаяЭлектротехническаяКомиссия
For price, see current catalogue
Pour prix, voir catalogue en vigueur

– 2 – 61290-10-4 © IEC:2007
CONTENTS
FOREWORD.3
INTRODUCTION.5

1 Scope and object.6
2 Normative references .6
3 Abbreviated terms .7
4 Apparatus.7
5 Test sample.8
6 Procedure .9
6.1 Calibration.9
6.1.1 Calibration of optical bandwidth.9
6.1.2 Calibration of OSA power correction factor .10
6.2 Measurement .11
6.3 Calculation .12
7 Test results .12

Annex A (normative) Limitations of the interpolated source subtraction technique due
to source spontaneous emission .13

Bibliography.17

Figure 1 – Apparatus for gain and noise figure measurement.7
Figure A.1 – DI subtraction error as a function of source spontaneous emission level.14
Figure A.2 – Spectral plot showing additive higher noise level from spontaneous
emission of individual laser sources and broadband multiplexer.16
Figure A.3 – Significantly reduced spontenous emmision using wavelength selective
multiplexer .16

61290-10-4 © IEC:2007 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
OPTICAL AMPLIFIERS –
TEST METHODS –
Part 10-4: Multichannel parameters –
Interpolated source subtraction method using
an optical spectrum analyzer
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
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2) The formal decisions or agreements of IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an international
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3) IEC Publications have the form of recommendations for international use and are accepted by IEC National
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6) All users should ensure that they have the latest edition of this publication.
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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 61290-10-4 has been prepared by subcommittee 86C: Fibre optic
systems and active devices, of IEC technical committee 86: Fibre optics.
This standard shall be used in conjunction with IEC 61291-1. It was established on the basis
of the second (2006) edition of that standard.
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
CDV Report on voting
86C/724/CDV 86C/742/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.

– 4 – 61290-10-4 © IEC:2007
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
A list of all parts of the 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.
61290-10-4 © IEC:2007 – 5 –
INTRODUCTION
This International Standard 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.
– 6 – 61290-10-4 © IEC:2007
OPTICAL AMPLIFIERS –
TEST METHODS –
Part 10-4: Multichannel parameters –
Interpolated source subtraction method using
an optical spectrum analyzer
1 Scope and object
This part of IEC 61290 applies to all commercially available optical amplifiers (OAs) and
optically amplified subsystems. It applies to OAs using optically pumped fibres (OFAs based
on either rare-earth doped fibres or on the Raman effect), semiconductor optical amplifiers
(SOAs) and waveguides (POWA).
The object of this standard is to establish uniform requirements for accurate and reliable
measurements, by means of the interpolated source subtraction method using an optical
spectrum analyzer. The following OA parameters, as defined in Clause 3 of IEC 61291-1, are
determined:
• channel gain, and
• channel signal-spontaneous noise figure.
This method is called interpolated source subtraction (ISS) because the amplified
spontaneous emission (ASE) at each channel is obtained by interpolating from measurements
at a small wavelength offset around each channel. To minimize the effect of source
spontaneous emission, the effect of source noise is subtracted from the measured noise.
The accuracy of the ISS technique degrades at high input power level due to the spontaneous
emission from the laser source(s). Annex A provides guidance on the limits of this technique
for high input power.
An additional source of inaccuracy is due to interpolation error. Annex A provides guidance on
the magnitude of interpolation error for a typical amplifier ASE versus wavelength
characteristic.
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 General aspects of noise figure test methods are reported in IEC 61290-3.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document.
...