Abstract

Low noise, wavelength stabilized Raman pumps are critical components in Raman amplification systems. We present a study on the linewidth requirements of low relative intensity noise (RIN) Raman pumps. We show that stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) in transmission fibers imposes a lower limit on the minimum modal linewidth of these lasers. This lower limit on the modal linewidth in return will determine the lowest achievable RIN. For the three types of fibers studied (Truewave reduced slope TWRS, standard single-mode SSMF, and Truewave dispersion compensating TWDCF fibers), the lowest achievable RIN is about-140dB/Hz @140mW output power for a pump laser at frequencies between 3 to 10GHz.

© 2002 Optical Society of America