Gain and noise properties of small-signal erbium-doped fiber amplifiers pumped in the 980-nm band

Abstract
The authors have experimentally and theoretically investigated the effects of detuning the pump wavelength on the gain and noise properties of small-signal, erbium-doped fiber amplifiers codirectionally pumped in the 980-nm band. While the pump wavelength can be varied over a wide range with little impact on the gain, a noise penalty is incurred. For amplifiers saturated by amplified spontaneous emission, it is possible to increase the gain by detuning the pump wavelength.