High sensitivity 1.3 µm optically preamplifiedreceiver using Raman amplification

Abstract
A 10 Gbit/s receiver using a Raman preamplifier with a gain of 40 dB and a noise figure of 4.4 dB exhibits a sensitivity of –36.4 dBm (151 photon/bit). The preamplifier which is counter-directionally pumped exhibits a two-stage topology to minimise double Rayleigh scattering.