SIST EN IEC 61291-1:2018

Optical amplifiers - Part 1: Generic specification (IEC 61291-1:2018)

This part of IEC 61291 applies to all commercially available optical amplifiers (OAs) and
optically amplified assemblies. It applies to OAs using optically pumped fibres (OFAs based
either on rare-earth doped fibres or on the Raman effect), semiconductors (SOAs), and
waveguides (POWAs).
The object of this document is
– to establish uniform requirements for transmission, operation, reliability and environmental
properties of OAs, and
– to provide assistance to the purchaser in the selection of consistently high-quality OA
products for his particular applications.
Parameters specified for OAs are those characterizing the transmission, operation, reliability
and environmental properties of the OA seen as a "black box" from a general point of view. In
the sectional and detail specifications a subset of these parameters will be specified
according to the type and application of the particular OA device or assembly.

Lichtwellenleiter-Verstärker - Teil 1: Fachgrundspezifikation (IEC 61291-1:2018)

Amplificateurs optiques - Partie 1: Spécification générique (IEC 61291-1:2018)

IEC 61291-1:2018 s’applique à tous les amplificateurs optiques (OA) et systèmes à amplification optique, disponibles sur le marché. Elle s’applique aux OA utilisant des fibres pompées optiquement (OFA basés sur des fibres dopées aux terres rares ou sur l’effet Raman), des semiconducteurs (SOA) et des guides d’ondes (POWA). Le présent document a pour objet
- d’établir des exigences uniformes pour la transmission, le fonctionnement, la fiabilité et les propriétés liées à l'environnement des OA, et
- d’aider les acheteurs à sélectionner des produits OA de qualité élevée et constante pour leurs applications.
Les paramètres spécifiés pour un OA sont ceux qui caractérisent les propriétés de transmission, de fonctionnement, de fiabilité et d’environnement de l’OA, considéré globalement comme une "boîte noire". Dans les spécifications intermédiaires et particulières, un sous-ensemble de ces paramètres sera spécifié d’après le type et l’application d’un module OA ou d’un système d’OA particulier. Cette quatrième édition annule et remplace la troisième édition parue en 2012. Cette édition constitue une révision technique. Cette édition inclut les modifications techniques majeures suivantes par rapport à l'édition précédente:
- des termes ont été ajoutés pour des paramètres de l'IEC 61290-4-3 et de l'IEC 61290-10-5;
- la classification de l'Article 4 a été retirée car elle n'est pas utilisée;
- la définition de la dispersion du mode de polarisation a été simplifiée.
Mots clés: amplificateurs optiques (OA)

Optični ojačevalniki - 1. del: Splošna specifikacija (IEC 61291-1:2018)

Ta del standarda IEC 61291 se uporablja za vse komercialno dostopne optične ojačevalnike (OA) in optično ojačane sestave. Velja za optične ojačevalnike z optično črpanimi vlakni (OFA, ki temeljijo na dopiranih vlaknih redke zemljine ali Ramanovem efektu), polprevodniki (SOA) in valovodi (POWA).
Cilj tega dokumenta je
– določiti enotne zahteve za prenos, delovanje, zanesljivost in okoljske lastnosti optičnih ojačevalnikov in
– zagotoviti pomoč kupcu pri izbiri visokokakovostnih optičnih ojačevalnikov, ki bodo ustrezali njegovi uporabi.
Parametri, ki so določeni za optične ojačevalnike, označujejo prenos, delovanje, zanesljivost in okoljske lastnosti optičnega ojačevalnika, ki je na splošno videti kot »črna skrinjica«. V področnih in podrobnih specifikacijah bo določena podmnožica teh parametrov glede na tip in uporabo posameznega optičnega ojačevalnika ali sestava.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 21-Sep-2017
• Publication Date: 14-May-2018
• ICS: 33.180.30 - Optic amplifiers
• Technical Committee: MOC - Mobile Communications
• Current Stage: 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 25-Apr-2018
• Due Date: 30-Jun-2018
• Completion Date: 15-May-2018
• Ref Project: EN IEC 61291-1:2018 - Optical amplifiers - Part 1: Generic specification

Relations

• Revised: SIST EN 61291-1:2012 - Optical amplifiers - Part 1: Generic specification (IEC 61291-1:2012)
• Effective Date: 23-May-2017
• Replaces: SIST EN 61291-1:2012 - Optical amplifiers - Part 1: Generic specification (IEC 61291-1:2012)
• Effective Date: 24-Apr-2018
• Replaces: SIST EN 61291-1:2012 - Optical amplifiers - Part 1: Generic specification (IEC 61291-1:2012)
• Effective Date: 07-Jun-2022

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
SIST EN IEC 61291-1:2018
01-julij-2018
1DGRPHãþD
SIST EN 61291-1:2012
2SWLþQLRMDþHYDOQLNLGHO6SORãQDVSHFLILNDFLMD,(&
Optical amplifiers - Part 1: Generic specification (IEC 61291-1:2018)
Lichtwellenleiter-Verstärker - Teil 1: Fachgrundspezifikation (IEC 61291-1:2018)
Amplificateurs optiques - Partie 1: Spécification générique (IEC 61291-1:2018)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN IEC 61291-1:2018
ICS:
33.180.30 2SWLþQLRMDþHYDOQLNL Optic amplifiers
SIST EN IEC 61291-1:2018 en
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

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SIST EN IEC 61291-1:2018

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SIST EN IEC 61291-1:2018


EUROPEAN STANDARD EN IEC 61291-1

NORME EUROPÉENNE

EUROPÄISCHE NORM
April 2018
ICS 33.180.30 Supersedes EN 61291-1:2012
English Version
Optical amplifiers - Part 1: Generic specification
(IEC 61291-1:2018)
Amplificateurs optiques - Partie 1: Spécification générique Lichtwellenleiter-Verstärker - Teil 1: Fachgrundspezifikation
(IEC 61291-1:2018) (IEC 61291-1:2018)
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2018-03-27. CENELEC members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC
Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.
Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre or to any CENELEC member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the
same status as the official versions.
CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.



European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2018 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
 Ref. No. EN IEC 61291-1:2018 E

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SIST EN IEC 61291-1:2018
EN IEC 61291-1:2018 (E)


European foreword
The text of document 86C/1460/CDV, future edition 4 of IEC 61291-1, prepared by IEC/SC 86C "Fibre
optic systems and active devices" of IEC/TC 86 "Fibre optics" was submitted to the IEC-CENELEC
parallel vote and approved by CENELEC as EN IEC 61291-1:2018.

The following dates are fixed:
• latest date by which the document has to be (dop) 2018-12-27
implemented at national level by
publication of an identical national
standard or by endorsement
(dow) 2021-03-27
• latest date by which the national
standards conflicting with the
document have to be withdrawn

This document supersedes EN 61291-1:2012.

This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
a) terms have been added for parameters from IEC 61290-4-3 and IEC 61290-10-5;
b) Clause 4 Classification has been removed, since this system is judged to be unused;
c) the definition of polarization mode dispersion (PMD) has been simplified.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CENELEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

Endorsement notice
The text of the International Standard IEC 61291-1:2018 was approved by CENELEC as a European
Standard without any modification.
In the official version, for Bibliography, the following notes have to be added for the standards indicated:

IEC 60793-2 NOTE Harmonized as EN 60793-2.
IEC 60825-1 NOTE Harmonized as EN 60825-1.
IEC 60825-2 NOTE Harmonized as EN 60825-2.
IEC 60874-1 NOTE Harmonized as EN 60874-1.
IEC 61000 series NOTE Harmonized as EN 61000 series.
1
IEC 61290-1 series NOTE Harmonized as EN 61290-1 series.
IEC 61290-3 NOTE Harmonized as EN 61290-3.
IEC 61291 series NOTE Harmonized as EN 61291 series.

1
Withdrawn.
2

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SIST EN IEC 61291-1:2018
EN IEC 61291-1:2018 (E)

Annex ZA
(normative)

Normative references to international publications
with their corresponding European publications

The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments)
applies.

NOTE 1  Where an International Publication has been modified by common modifications, indicated by (mod), the relevant
EN/HD applies.

NOTE 2  Up-to-date information on the latest versions of the European Standards listed in this annex is available here:
www.cenelec.eu.

Publication Year Title EN/HD Year
IEC 60050-731 -  International Electrotechnical Vocabulary - - -
Chapter 731: Optical fibre communication
IEC 61290 series Optical amplifiers - Test methods EN 61290 series
IEC 61290-1-1 -  Optical amplifiers - Test methods - Part 1- EN 61290-1-1 -
1: Power and gain parameters - Optical
spectrum analyzer method
IEC 61290-1-2 -  Optical amplifiers - Test methods -- Part 1- EN 61290-1-2 -
2: Power and gain parameters - Electrical
spectrum analyzer method
IEC 61290-1-3 -  Optical amplifiers - Test methods - Part 1- EN 61290-1-3 -
3: Optical power and gain parameters -
Optical power meter method
IEC 61290-3-1 -  Optical amplifiers - Test methods -- Part 3- EN 61290-3-1 -
1: Noise figure parameters - Optical
spectrum analyzer method
IEC 61290-3-2 -  Optical amplifiers - Test methods -- Part 3- EN 61290-3-2 -
2: Noise figure parameters - Electrical
spectrum analyzer method
IEC 61290-4-1 -  Optical amplifiers - Test methods -- Part 4- EN 61290-4-1 -
1: Gain transient parameters – Two
wavelength method
IEC 61290-4-2 -  Optical amplifiers - Test methods -- Part 4- EN 61290-4-2 -
2: Gain transient parameters - Broadband
source method
IEC 61290-4-3 -  Optical amplifiers - Test methods - Part 4- EN 61290-4-3 -
3: Power transient parameters - Single
channel optical amplifiers in output power
control
IEC 61290-5-1 -  Optical amplifiers - Test methods -- Part 5- EN 61290-5-1 -
1: Reflectance parameters - Optical
spectrum analyzer method
IEC 61290-5-2 -  Optical amplifiers - Test methods -- Part 5- EN 61290-5-2 -
2: Reflectance parameters - Electrical
spectrum analyser method
IEC 61290-5-3 -  Optical fibre amplifiers - Basic specification EN 61290-5-3 -
-- Part 5-3: Test methods for reflectance
parameters - Reflectance tolerance using
an electrical spectrum analyser
IEC 61290-6-1 -  Optical fibre amplifiers - Basic specification EN 61290-6-1 -
-- Part 6-1: Test methods for pump leakage
parameters - Optical demultiplexer
3

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SIST EN IEC 61291-1:2018
EN IEC 61291-1:2018 (E)

IEC 61290-7-1 -  Optical amplifiers - Test methods -- Part 7- EN 61290-7-1 -
1: Out-of-band insertion losses - Filtered
optical power meter method
IEC 61290-10-1 -  Optical amplifiers - Test methods -- Part EN 61290-10-1 -
10-1: Multichannel parameters - Pulse
method using an optical switch and optical
spectrum analyser
IEC 61290-10-2 -  Optical amplifiers - Test methods -- Part EN 61290-10-2 -
10-2: Multichannel parameters - Pulse
method using a gated optical spectrum
analyzer
IEC 61290-10-3 -  Optical amplifiers - Test methods -- Part EN 61290-10-3 -
10-3: Multichannel parameters - Probe
methods
IEC 61290-10-4 -  Optical amplifiers - Test methods -- Part EN 61290-10-4 -
10-4: Multichannel parameters -
Interpolated source subtraction method
using an optical spectrum analyzer
IEC 61290-10-5 -  Optical amplifiers - Test methods -- Part EN 61290-10-5 -
10-5: Multichannel parameters - Distributed
Raman amplifier gain and noise figure
IEC 61290-11-1 -  Optical amplifier - Test methods -- Part 11- EN 61290-11-1 -
1: Polarization mode dispersion parameter
- Jones matrix eigenanalysis (JME)
IEC 61290-11-2 -  Optical amplifiers - Test methods -- Part EN 61290-11-2 -
11-2: Polarization mode dispersion
parameter - Poincaré sphere analysis
method
IEC 61291-5-2 -  Optical amplifiers - Part 5-2: Qualification EN 61291-5-2 -
specifications - Reliability qualification for
optical fibre amplifiers
IEC/TR 61931 -  Fibre optic - Terminology - -


4

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SIST EN IEC 61291-1:2018



IEC 61291-1

®


Edition 4.0 2018-02




INTERNATIONAL



STANDARD




NORME



INTERNATIONALE











Optical amplifiers –

Part 1: Generic specification




Amplificateurs optiques –

Partie 1: Spécification générique















INTERNATIONAL

ELECTROTECHNICAL

COMMISSION


COMMISSION

ELECTROTECHNIQUE


INTERNATIONALE




ICS 33.180.30 ISBN 978-2-8322-5404-2



Warning! Make sure that you obtained this publication from an authorized distributor.

Attention! Veuillez vous assurer que vous avez obtenu cette publication via un distributeur agréé.

® Registered trademark of the International Electrotechnical Commission
Marque déposée de la Commission Electrotechnique Internationale

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SIST EN IEC 61291-1:2018
– 2 – IEC 61291-1:2018 © IEC 2018
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviated terms . 6
3.1 Overview. 6
3.2 Terms and definitions . 8
3.2.1 OA devices and distributed amplifiers . 9
3.2.2 OA assemblies . 23
3.3 Abbreviated terms . 26
4 Requirements . 26
4.1 Preferred values . 27
4.2 Sampling. 27
4.3 Product identification for storage and shipping . 27
4.3.1 Marking . 27
4.3.2 Labelling . 27
4.3.3 Packaging. 27
5 Quality assessment . 27
6 Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements . 27
7 Test methods . 27
Bibliography . 29

Figure 1 – OA device and assemblies . 7
Figure 2 – Optical amplifier in a multichannel application . 8

Table 1 – Grouping of parameters and corresponding test methods or references . 28

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SIST EN IEC 61291-1:2018
IEC 61291-1:2018 © IEC 2018 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________

OPTICAL AMPLIFIERS –

Part 1: Generic specification

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,
Technical Reports, Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) and Guides (hereafter referred to as "IEC
Publication(s)"). Their preparation is entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested
in the subject dealt with may participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and non-
governmental organizations liaising with the IEC also participate in this preparation. IEC collaborates closely
with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by
agreement between the two organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an international
consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation from all
interested IEC National Committees.
3) IEC Publications have the form of recommendations for international use and are accepted by IEC National
Committees in that sense. While all reasonable efforts are made to ensure that the technical content of IEC
Publications is accurate, IEC cannot be held responsible for the way in which they are used or for any
misinterpretation by any end user.
4) In order to promote international uniformity, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC Publications
transparently to the maximum extent possible in their national and regional publications. Any divergence
between any IEC Publication and the corresponding national or regional publication shall be clearly indicated in
the latter.
5) IEC itself does not provide any attestation of conformity. Independent certification bodies provide conformity
assessment services and, in some areas, access to IEC marks of conformity. IEC is not responsible for any
services carried out by independent certification bodies.
6) All users should ensure that they have the latest edition of this publication.
7) No liability shall attach to IEC or its directors, employees, servants or agents including individual experts and
members of its technical committees and IEC National Committees for any personal injury, property damage or
other damage of any nature whatsoever, whether direct or indirect, or for costs (including legal fees) and
expenses arising out of the publication, use of, or reliance upon, this IEC Publication or any other IEC
Publications.
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 61291-1 has been prepared by subcommittee 86C: Fibre optic
systems and active devices, of IEC technical committee 86: Fibre optics.
This fourth edition cancels and replaces the third edition published in 2012. This edition
constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous
edition:
a) terms have been added for parameters from IEC 61290-4-3 and IEC 61290-10-5;
b) Clause 4 Classification has been removed, since this system is judged to be unused;
c) the definition of polarization mode dispersion (PMD) has been simplified.

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SIST EN IEC 61291-1:2018
– 4 – IEC 61291-1:2018 © IEC 2018
The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
CDV Report on voting
86C/1460/CDV 86C/1498/RVC

Full information on the voting for the approval of this International Standard can be found in
the report on voting indicated in the above table.
This document has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
A list of all parts in the IEC 61291 series, published under the general title Optical amplifiers,
can be found on the IEC website.
The committee has decided that the contents of this document will remain unchanged until the
stability date indicated on the IEC website under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data related to
the specific document. At this date, the document will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.

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SIST EN IEC 61291-1:2018
IEC 61291-1:2018 © IEC 2018 – 5 –
OPTICAL AMPLIFIERS –

Part 1: Generic specification



1 Scope
This part of IEC 61291 applies to all commercially available optical amplifiers (OAs) and
optically amplified assemblies. It applies to OAs using optically pumped fibres (OFAs based
either on rare-earth doped fibres or on the Raman effect), semiconductors (SOAs), and
waveguides (POWAs).
The object of this document is
– to establish uniform requirements for transmission, operation, reliability and environmental
properties of OAs, and
– to provide assistance to the purchaser in the selection of consistently high-quality OA
products for his particular applications.
Parameters specified for OAs are those characterizing the transmission, operation, reliability
and environmental properties of the OA seen as a "black box" from a general point of view. In
the sectional and detail specifications a subset of these parameters will be specified
according to the type and application of the particular OA device or assembly.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their
content constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition
cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including
any amendments) applies.
IEC 60050-731, International Electrotechnical Vocabulary – Chapter 731: Optical fibre
communication (available at http://www.electropedia.org)
IEC 61290 (all parts), Optical amplifiers – Test methods
IEC 61290-1-1, Optical amplifiers – Test methods – Part 1-1: Power and gain parameters –
Optical spectrum analyzer method
IEC 61290-1-2, Optical amplifiers – Test methods – Part 1-2: Power and gain parameters –
Electrical spectrum analyzer method
IEC 61290-1-3, Optical amplifiers – Test methods – Part 1-3: Power and gain parameters –
Optical power meter method
IEC 61290-3-1, Optical amplifiers – Test methods – Part 3-1: Noise figure parameters –
Optical spectrum analyzer method
IEC 61290-3-2, Optical amplifiers – Test methods – Part 3-2: Noise figure parameters –
Electrical spectrum analyzer method
IEC 61290-4-1, Optical amplifiers – Test methods – Part 4-1: Gain transient parameters –
Two wavelength method

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SIST EN IEC 61291-1:2018
– 6 – IEC 61291-1:2018 © IEC 2018
IEC 61290-4-2, Optical amplifiers – Test methods – Part 4-2: Gain transient parameters –
Broadband source method
IEC 61290-4-3, Optical amplifiers – Test methods – Part 4-3: Power transient parameters –
Single channel optical amplifiers in output power control
IEC 61290-5-1, Optical amplifiers – Test methods – Part 5-1: Reflectance parameters –
Optical spectrum analyzer method
IEC 61290-5-2, Optical amplifiers – Test methods – Part 5-2: Reflectance parameters –
Electrical spectrum analyzer method
IEC 61290-5-3, Optical fibre amplifiers – Basic specification– Part 5-3: Test methods for
reflectance parameters – Reflectance tolerance using an electrical spectrum analyzer
IEC 61290-6-1, Optical fibre amplifiers – Basic specification – Part 6-1: Test methods for
pump leakage parameters – Optical demultiplexer
IEC 61290-7-1, Optical amplifiers – Test methods – Part 7-1: Out-of-band insertion losses –
Filtered optical power meter method
IEC 61290-10-1, Optical amplifiers – Test methods – Part 10-1: Multichannel parameters –
Pulse method using an optical switch and optical spectrum analyzer
IEC 61290-10-2, Optical amplifiers – Test methods – Part 10-2: Multichannel parameters –
Pulse method using a gated optical spectrum analyzer
IEC 61290-10-3, Optical amplifiers – Test methods – Part 10-3: Multichannel parameters –
Probe methods
IEC 61290-10-4, Optical amplifiers – Test methods – Part 10-4: Multichannel parameters –
Interpolated source subtraction method using an optical spectrum analyzer
IEC 61290-10-5, Optical amplifiers – Test methods – Part 10-5: Multichannel parameters –
Distributed Raman amplifier gain and noise figure
IEC 61290-11-1, Optical amplifiers – Test methods – Part 11-1: Polarization mode dispersion
parameter – Jones matrix eigenanalysis (JME)
IEC 61290-11-2, Optical amplifiers – Test methods – Part 11-2: Polarization mode dispersion
parameter – Poincaré sphere analysis method
IEC 61291-5-2, Optical amplifiers – Part 5-2: Qualification specifications – Reliability
qualification for optical fibre amplifiers
IEC TR 61931, Fibre optic – Terminology
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviated terms
3.1 Overview
The definitions listed in 3.2 refer to the meaning of the terms used in the specifications of
OAs. Only those parameters listed in the appropriate specification template, as in
IEC 61291-2 and IEC 61291-4, are intended to be specified.

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SIST EN IEC 61291-1:2018
IEC 61291-1:2018 © IEC 2018 – 7 –
The list of parameter definitions of OAs, given in 3.2, is divided into two parts: the first part,
3.2.1, lists those parameters relevant for OA devices, namely power, pre-, line- and
distributed amplifiers; the second part, 3.2.2, lists the parameters relevant for optically
amplified, elementary assemblies, namely the optically amplified transmitter (OAT) and the
optically amplified receiver (OAR).
In any case where the value of a parameter is given for a particular device, it will be
necessary to specify certain appropriate operating conditions such as temperature, bias
current, pump optical power. In Clause 3, two different operating conditions are referred to:
nominal operating conditions, which are those suggested by the manufacturer for normal use
of the OA, and limit operating conditions, in which all the parameters adjustable by the user
(e.g. temperature, gain, pump laser injection current) are at their maximum values, according
to the absolute maximum ratings stated by the manufacturer.
The OA shall be considered as a "black box", as shown in Figure 1. The OA device shall have
two optical ports, namely an input and an output port (Figure 1 a)). The OAT and OAR shall
be considered as an OA integrated on the transmitter side or on the receiver side,
respectively. Both kinds of integration imply that the connection between the transmitter or the
receiver and the OA is proprietary and not to be specified. Consequently, only the optical
output port can be defined for the OAT [after the OA, as shown in Figure 1 b)] and only the
optical input port can be defined for the OAR [before the OA, as shown in Figure 1 c)]. The
optical ports may consist of unterminated fibres or optical connectors. Electrical connections
for power supply (not shown in Figure 1) are also necessary. Following this "black box"
approach, the typical loss of one connection and the corresponding uncertainty will be
included within the values of gain, noise figure and other parameters of the OA device.
NOTE 1 For distributed amplifiers, as described in Clause 4, this black-box configuration can be simulated for test
purposes, for example by attaching a reference fibre to test a Raman pump unit.

Input Output Output Input

Tx
OA
OA OA Rx

port port port
port

IEC
IEC

IEC


a) – OA device b) – OAT c) – OAR
Figure 1 – OA device and assemblies
The OA amplifies signals in a nominal operating wavelength region. In addition, other signals
outside of the band of operating wavelength can in some applications, also cross the OA. The
purpose of these out-of-band signals and their wavelength, or wavelength region, can be
specified in the detail specifications.
When signals at multiple wavelengths are incident on the OA, as is the case in multichannel
systems, suitable adjustment of the definitions of some existing relevant parameters is
needed together with the introduction of definitions of new parameters relevant to this
different application.
A typical configuration of an OA in a multichannel application is shown in Figure 2. At the
transmitting side, m signals, coming from m optical transmitters, Tx , Tx , . . . Tx , each with a
1 2 m
unique wavelength, λ , λ , . . . λ , respectively, are combined by an optical multiplexer (OM).
1 2 m
At the receiving side, the m signals at λ , λ , . . . λ , are separated with an optical
1 2 m
demultiplexer (OD) and routed to separate optical receivers, Rx , Rx , . . . Rx , respectively.
1 2 m
To characterize the OA in this multichannel application, an input reference plane and an
output reference plane are defined at the OA input and output ports, respectively, as shown in
Figure 2.

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SIST EN IEC 61291-1:2018
– 8 – IEC 61291-1:2018 © IEC 2018
   Input Output

Tx Rx
reference
1 reference 1
plane
plane


Rx
Tx
2 2

OM OD

OA

P OA P
i1 o1
P P
i2 o2
. . . . . .

Tx Rx
P P
m m
im om
P (λ)

ASE
IEC
Figure 2 – Optical amplifier in a multichannel application
At the input reference plane, m input signals at the m wavelengths are considered, each with a
unique power level, P , P , . . . P , respectively. At the output reference plane, m output
i1 i2 im
signals at the m wavelengths, resulting from the optical amplification of the corresponding m
input signals, are considered, each with power level P , P , . . . P , respectively. Moreover,
o1 o2 om
the amplified spontaneous emission, ASE, with a noise power spectral density, P (λ), is
ASE
also to be considered at the OA output port.
Most definitions of relevant single-channel parameters can be suitably extended to
multichannel applications. When this extension is straightforward, the word "channel" will be
added to the pertinent parameter. In particular, the noise figure and the signal-spontaneous
noise figure may be extended to multichannel applications, channel by channel, by
(λ) at each channel wavelength and the channel signal
considering the value of P
ASE
bandwidth. For each channel wavelength there will be a unique value of noise figure that will
be a function of the input power level of all signals. In this case the parameters, channel noise
figure and channel signal-spontaneous noise figure, are introduced. However, some additional
parameters also need to be defined. For each parameter, the particular multichannel
configuration, including the full set of channel signal wavelengths and input powers, needs to
be specified.
The parameters defined in 3.2.1 will in general depend on temperature and polarization state
of input channels. The temperature and state of polarization should be kept constant or
controlled or be measured and reported together with the measured parameter.
NOTE 2 Except where noted, the optical powers mentioned in 3.2.1 are intended as average powers.
NOTE 3 The measured optical powers are open beam powers: this can result in differences of about 0,18 dB in
the measurement of absolute power levels.
NOTE 4 In the case of the distributed amplifier, all the parameters are related to a suitable reference fibre used to
emulate the transmission fibre in conjunction with the pumping assembly.
3.2 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in IEC 60050-731 and
IEC TR 61931 and the following apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following
addresses:
• IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
• ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp

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SIST EN IEC 61291-1:2018
IEC 61
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