This part of IEC 61290 applies to all commercially available optical amplifiers (OAs), including
OAs using optically pumped fibres (OFAs based on either rare-earth doped fibres or on the
Raman effect), semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) and planar waveguide optical
amplifiers (PWOAs).
The object of this standard is to establish uniform requirements for accurate and reliable
measurements, by means of the electrical spectrum analyzer (ESA) method, of the noise
figure, as defined in IEC 61291-1.
The present test method is based on direct electrical noise measurement and it is directly
related to its definition including all relevant noise contributions. Therefore, this method can
be used for all types of optical amplifiers, including SOA and Raman amplifiers which can
have significant contributions besides amplified spontaneous emission, because it measures
the total noise figure. For further details of applicability, see IEC 61290-3. An alternative test
method based on the optical spectrum analyzer can be used, particularly for different noise
parameters (such as the signal-spontaneous noise factor) but it is not included in the object of
this standard.
NOTE 1 All numerical values followed by (:1:) are suggested values for which the measurement is assured. Other
values may be acceptable but should be verified.
NOTE 2 A measurement accuracy for the average noise factor of _+20 %(:1:), respectively +1 dB, should be
attainable with this method (see Clause 6).
NOTE 3 General aspects of noise figure test methods are reported in IEC 61290-3.