PPLN-Based Optical Parametric Amplification for Wideband WDM Transmission

The optical parametric amplifier (OPA) has attractive features for optical communications, such as a wideband, high gain, and fast transient response. In addition, by using idler light, which is phase-conjugated light generated in the amplification process, various kinds of optical signal processing, such as fiber-nonlinearity mitigation, wavelength conversion, and phase-sensitive amplification, can be performed. A periodically poled LiNbO ₃ (PPLN) waveguide is an χ ⁽²⁾ -based optical parametric amplification medium, and it makes both wideband and high-gain amplification possible. We developed a 4-port PPLN module that can combine signal light and pump light into a PPLN waveguide with low loss. In this paper, we overview the applications of OPA to WDM optical fiber transmission and explain the configurations of an OPA using 4-port PPLN modules. As applications of our PPLN-based OPA, we introduce the demonstration of wideband inline amplification exceeding 5 THz. Furthermore, we demonstrate inter-band wavelength conversion between C- and S-bands using PPLN waveguides developed for multi-band optical transmission applications.