JP5801926B1 - Crosstalk measuring apparatus and measuring method for optical fiber amplifier - Google Patents

Abstract

[PROBLEMS] To measure crosstalk between cores of a multi-core fiber amplifier according to the prior art, although the wavelengths used for crosstalk measurement are close to each other, the crosstalk measurement is performed between two different wavelengths. In the prior art method, in actuality, a value different from the inter-core crosstalk at one specific wavelength to be measured is measured. In addition, in a multimode optical fiber amplifier used in a multimode optical transmission system, it has been required to establish an evaluation method for intermode crosstalk as well as intercore crosstalk of a multicore optical fiber amplifier. In the crosstalk measurement method for an optical fiber amplifier according to the present invention, an optical branching device for branching signal light generated by one light source is provided, and each signal light branched by the optical branching device is transmitted by an optical modulator. Are modulated at different frequencies. A plurality of signal lights modulated at different frequencies are respectively input to different cores of the optical fiber amplifier and amplified. The output light of the amplifier is converted into an electric signal by a photoelectric converter and detected by means for observing the spectrum of the electric signal. [Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical fiber amplifier used in space division multiplexing optical transmission. More specifically, the present invention relates to crosstalk measurement of a multicore fiber amplifier in a multicore optical transmission system.

  With the widespread use of new Internet communication terminals such as smartphones, the use of optical communication that supports mobile phones and the Internet has also exploded. There is a demand for higher speed and larger capacity for optical transmission systems. In order to dramatically increase the transmission capacity of an optical transmission system, a multi-core optical transmission system using a multi-core fiber having a plurality of cores in one fiber as an optical transmission line has been developed. In addition, development of a multimode optical transmission system that transmits a plurality of pieces of information in parallel using different propagation modes of a multimode fiber is also in progress. Optical transmission using these multi-core fibers and multi-mode fibers for multiplexing optical signals is called space division multiplexing (SDM) optical transmission.

  In SDM optical transmission, a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) signal that transmits different information to different cores or different modes is propagated, so that a fiber having only one single mode core of the prior art (standard single mode). Compared with the case of using a fiber) as a transmission line, the transmission capacity can be dramatically increased.

  In a long-distance SDM optical transmission system, an optical fiber amplifier for SDM is used to amplify signal light whose intensity is reduced during transmission, as in an optical transmission system using a standard single mode fiber as a transmission line in the prior art. Indispensable.

  In a multi-core fiber amplifier used in a multi-core optical transmission system, inter-core crosstalk occurs due to mode coupling between signals propagating through each core of the multi-core fiber for amplification. When applying a multi-core fiber amplifier to an optical transmission system, properly evaluate the value of inter-core crosstalk in the multi-core fiber amplifier and confirm that the cross-core value between cores is below the specified or design value. There is a need.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration for evaluating and measuring crosstalk between cores of a multicore fiber. Inter-core crosstalk is an important performance parameter even for a single multi-core fiber used in a transmission line, and can be easily measured using the evaluation / measurement system shown in FIG. 1 (Non-Patent Document 1). The evaluation / measurement system 401 in FIG. 1 includes a light source 402, connection single-core fibers 402 and 407, a measured multi-core fiber 405, an alignment mechanism 406, and an optical power meter 408. Light from the light source 402 is input to one core from the input side of the multi-core fiber 405. On the output side of the multi-core fiber 405, the single-core fiber 407 is aligned with any of the plurality of cores by the alignment mechanism 406, and the optical power is measured by the optical power meter 408.

  When the output-side single core fiber 407 is aligned with the core to which light is input from the input side single core fiber 403, the optical power attenuated by the transmission loss of the core is measured. When the other cores are aligned, the inter-core crosstalk light power can be measured. Such optical power measurement is carried out when light is input to all the cores, and the crosstalk value between the two cores is obtained from the optical power attenuated by the core transmission loss and the optical power of the crosstalk between the cores. It is done.

K. Takenaga et al. “An investigation on crosstalk i n multi-core fiber by introducing random fluctuation along longitudinal direction,” IEICE Trans. Commun., Vol.E94-B, no.2, pp.409-416, 2011 Y. Tsuchida et al., “Amplification Characteristics of a Multi-core Erbium-doped Fiber Amplifier,” in Proc. OFC / NFOEC2012, paper OM3C.3

  However, there has been a problem that the above-described inter-core crosstalk measurement method of a single fiber cannot be applied as it is as an inter-core crosstalk measurement method in a multi-core fiber amplifier. In a multi-core fiber amplifier, it is necessary to measure crosstalk during the amplification operation of signal light. For this reason, at the time of measuring the crosstalk between the cores, the signal light is input and amplified at least in the two cores where the crosstalk is to be measured. Therefore, when the output power of the core that measures crosstalk is monitored on the output side of the multicore fiber amplifier, as in the above-described method for measuring crosstalk between cores of a single multicore fiber, two cores that measure crosstalk between cores are to be measured. The signal light wavelength cannot be set to be the same in the core. Since an optical power meter cannot distinguish signal light and crosstalk light having the same wavelength, signal light having different wavelengths must be used.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration for evaluating / measuring crosstalk between cores of a multicore fiber amplifier according to the prior art. The evaluation / measurement meter 410 includes two variable laser light sources 411 and 412, a multi-core erbium-doped fiber amplifier (MC-EDFA) 413 including a multi-core erbium-doped fiber 415, and an optical spectrum analyzer 414. As shown in FIG. 2, separate signal light sources 411 and 412 are provided for the two cores to be measured for crosstalk, and the wavelengths of the signal lights from the two light sources 411 and 412 are set to be different from each other. (Non-Patent Document 2).

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a spectrum of an amplifier output measured by an optical spectrum analyzer in a conventional crosstalk evaluation / measurement system. 3 shows simultaneously the optical output from two cores from the MC-EDF 415 in the evaluation / measurement system of FIG. 2. Signal lights having wavelengths of 1550 nm and 1551 nm are input to different cores A and B of the MC-EDF 415 in the multi-core erbium-doped fiber amplifier 413, respectively, and output from the core B is measured by the output measurement of the core A (solid spectrum in FIG. 3). The crosstalk from the core A to the core B can be measured by measuring the output from the core B (the broken line spectrum in FIG. 3).

  However, in the inter-core crosstalk measurement method of the conventional multi-core fiber amplifier shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the crosstalk measurement between two different wavelengths is possible even though the wavelengths used for the crosstalk measurement are close to each other. It has become. Originally, crosstalk should be measured at the same predetermined wavelength, and the prior art method has a problem that it is different from the crosstalk between cores at a specific wavelength to be actually measured. It was.

  In addition, in a multimode optical fiber amplifier used in a multimode optical transmission system, evaluation of crosstalk between modes is required in the same manner as crosstalk between cores of a multicore optical fiber amplifier. However, until now, there has been no report on a method for measuring crosstalk between modes in a multimode optical fiber amplifier, and there is an urgent need to establish the measurement method.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an inter-core crosstalk measuring apparatus and measuring method for a multi-core optical fiber amplifier capable of performing measurement using the same signal light wavelength between different cores, and An object is to provide an inter-mode crosstalk device and a measurement method for a multimode optical fiber amplifier.

In order to achieve such an object, the present invention provides a crosstalk between cores of a multicore optical fiber amplifier using a multicore fiber having a plurality of cores doped with rare earths as an amplification medium. In the measurement apparatus, as a test light, a light source that generates signal light, an optical branching unit that splits the signal light from the light source with an equal optical power, and generates a plurality of signal lights, and the optical branch Further, a plurality of modulation means for modulating each of the plurality of signal lights at a corresponding different frequency, a photoelectric conversion means for converting the output signal light from the optical fiber amplifier into an electric signal, and a spectrum of the electric signal are detected. And modulated signal light from the plurality of modulation means is input to the plurality of cores of the multi-core fiber and amplified from one of the plurality of cores. Signal light is connected to the photoelectric conversion means, of said plurality of modulating means, a first signal light modulated at a modulation frequency from the first modulating means, connected to the first core of the multicore fiber The signal light modulated at the second modulation frequency from the second modulation means among the plurality of modulation means is connected to the second core of the multi-core fiber, and the multi-core optical fiber amplifier The output of the second core is terminated, and in the electric signal converted from the amplified signal light from the first core, the spectrum corresponding to the first modulation frequency and the second modulation frequency are supported. An inter-core crosstalk measuring device, wherein crosstalk between the first core and the second core is obtained based on a difference from a spectrum to be measured.

The invention according to claim 2 is the crosstalk measuring device according to claim 1 , wherein the means for detecting the spectrum measures the power of the spectrum of a specific frequency corresponding to the modulation frequency in the electrical signal. It is a power meter combined with an electric spectrum analyzer or a narrow band pass filter.
Preferably, the peak power corresponding to the signal light and the peak power corresponding to the crosstalk light measured by the electric spectrum analyzer are corrected by subtracting the power corresponding to the white noise, respectively, When the peak power corresponding to the signal light is P _CROSS (dBm) and the peak power corresponding to the crosstalk light is P _Signal , the crosstalk at the optical power is the crosstalk (dB) = 0.5 × _Calculated as _PCROSS- P _Signal .

  As described above, the optical fiber amplifier crosstalk measuring apparatus and measuring method according to the present invention uses the same signal light wavelength between different cores, which is impossible with the conventional measuring method in a multi-core optical fiber amplifier. Crosstalk measurement can be performed, and crosstalk between modes in a multimode optical fiber amplifier can be measured.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration for evaluating and measuring crosstalk between cores of a multicore fiber. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration for evaluating / measuring crosstalk between cores of a multicore fiber amplifier according to the prior art. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an amplifier output spectrum measured by an optical spectrum analyzer in a conventional evaluation / measurement system. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the crosstalk measuring apparatus according to the first embodiment using the crosstalk measuring method of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an optical fiber amplifier that measures crosstalk. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a cross-sectional structure of the amplification fiber. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a spectrum observed in the crosstalk measurement method of the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the crosstalk measuring apparatus according to the second embodiment using the crosstalk measuring method of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a spectrum observed in the crosstalk measurement method of the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a crosstalk measuring apparatus according to a third embodiment using the crosstalk measuring method of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an optical fiber amplifier that measures crosstalk by the crosstalk measurement method according to the third embodiment. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a spectrum of LP ₀₁ mode amplified light observed in the crosstalk measurement method of the third embodiment. FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a crosstalk measuring apparatus according to a fourth embodiment using the crosstalk measuring method of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a spectrum of LP ₀₁ mode amplified light observed in the crosstalk measurement method of the fourth embodiment.

  The present invention provides a new optical fiber amplifier crosstalk measuring apparatus and measuring method using signal light of the same wavelength in the operating state. The crosstalk measuring device for an optical fiber amplifier of the present invention includes an optical branching device that branches a signal light generated by a single light source as a test signal. The signal light branched by this optical branching device is modulated at different frequencies by a plurality of optical modulators. In the case of crosstalk measurement between cores of a multicore optical fiber amplifier, a plurality of signal lights modulated at different frequencies are respectively input to different cores of the optical fiber amplifier and amplified. The output light of the multi-core optical fiber amplifier is converted into an electric signal by a photoelectric converter and detected by a means for observing the spectrum of the electric signal or a means for measuring the power of a specific frequency.

  When measuring crosstalk between modes of a multimode optical fiber amplifier, multiple signal lights modulated at different frequencies are converted into different modes by a mode multiplexer and then input to the optical fiber amplifiers. And amplified. The output light from the multimode optical fiber amplifier is demultiplexed into signal light of different modes by a mode demultiplexer, and the demultiplexed signal light of each mode is converted into an electric signal by a photoelectric converter, and the spectrum of the electric signal , Or specifically by means of measuring the power of the frequency. Hereinafter, various configurations and operations of the crosstalk measurement device of the present invention will be described with respect to various embodiments. The present invention can be implemented as a crosstalk measuring device. Further, the present invention can also be implemented as a crosstalk measurement method implemented by controlling each element of the crosstalk measurement device under a computer including a central control unit (CPU) and a memory.

First embodiment:
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the crosstalk measuring apparatus according to the first embodiment using the crosstalk measuring method of the present invention. The crosstalk measurement system 10 is roughly composed of a block that generates a test signal, an optical fiber amplifier 100 that measures crosstalk, and a block that measures crosstalk. The block for generating the test signal includes a signal light source 11 for generating signal light, an optical branching device 12 for branching the signal light power into a plurality, variable optical attenuators 13-1 and 13-2, and optical modulators 14-1 and 14. -2, waveform generators 15-1 and 15-2 for generating modulated signal waveforms to be input to the optical modulator, and polarization controllers 16-1 and 16-2. The block for measuring crosstalk includes a variable optical attenuator 17, a photoelectric converter 18 for converting an optical signal into an electric signal, and an electric spectrum analyzer 19.

As the signal light source 11, for example, a tunable laser was used, and the oscillation wavelength of the signal light was set to 1560.6 nm. The signal light is bifurcated into substantially the same optical power by the optical branching device 12 and is input to optical modulators 14-1 and 14-2 configured by, for example, acoustooptic modulators. A rectangular wave having a frequency f ₁ = 30 kHz generated by the waveform generator 15-1 is input to the modulation signal input terminal of one optical modulator 14-1. A rectangular wave having a frequency f ₂ = 20 kHz generated by the waveform generator 15-2 is input to the modulation signal input terminal of the other optical modulator 14-2. Therefore, one of the signal lights branched into two by the optical splitter 12 is a signal light modulated at 30 kHz and the other is modulated at 20 kHz. The signal lights modulated by different frequencies are input to different cores of the optical fiber amplifier 100 after the optical power is adjusted by the variable optical attenuators 13-1 and 13-2, respectively.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of an optical fiber amplifier that measures crosstalk by the crosstalk measuring apparatus of the present invention. The optical fiber amplifier 100 includes an amplification fiber 101 that measures crosstalk. A fan-in (FI) 102 and a fan-out (FO) 103, which are converters between the multi-core fiber and the seven single-core fibers, are connected to the input end and the output end of the amplification fiber 101, respectively. Corresponding to the seven single core fibers, pump / signal light multiplexers 104-1a to 104-7a, 104-1b to 104-7b for single core fibers, and optical isolators 105-1a to 105-105. -7a, 105-1b to 105-7b. The excitation light sources 106-1 to 106-7 are connected to the multiplexers 104-1a to 104-7a, respectively.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a cross-sectional structure of the amplification fiber. The amplification fiber 101 is a seven-core Er-doped fiber, and its cross-sectional structure is such that cores to which Er ions are added as active ions are arranged in a finely packed structure, as shown in FIG. The center core is numbered 0 and the outer core is numbered 1-6 in counterclockwise order. In the following description, the core number corresponds to the position of the core numbered in the cross-sectional structure of FIG.

Referring to FIG. 4 again, of the two signal lights modulated at different frequencies, the modulated signal light with f ₁ = 30 kHz from the optical modulator 14-1 is input to the core 0 of the optical fiber amplifier 100. Also, the modulated signal light with f ₂ = 20 kHz from the optical modulator 14-2 is input to the core 1 of the optical fiber amplifier 100. The two modulated signal lights are amplified with equal gain (10 dB) by the optical fiber amplifier 100, respectively. Here, a path indicated by a broken line 61 in the optical fiber amplifier 100 indicates crosstalk from the core 0 to the core 1. On the other hand, the path indicated by the solid line 62 indicates the signal light amplified by the core 2 by the original amplification function.

The signal light amplified by the core 0 of the amplification fiber is terminated at the output of the optical fiber amplifier 100, and the signal light amplified by the core 1 is subjected to photoelectric conversion after the optical power is adjusted by the variable optical attenuator 17. Is input to the device 18. In the photoelectric converter 18, the signal light is converted into an electric signal to output a signal voltage, and the spectrum is observed by the electric spectrum analyzer 19. In the configuration of the output termination and output measurement of the optical fiber amplifier 100 described above, the modulated signal light with f ₁ = 30 kHz from the optical modulator 14-1 is transmitted as crosstalk light in the optical fiber amplifier 100 by the electric spectrum analyzer 19. The spectrum is observed.

  Therefore, the crosstalk measuring apparatus of the present invention is a multicore optical fiber amplifier 100 intercore crosstalk measuring apparatus using a multicore fiber having a plurality of cores doped with rare earths as an amplification medium. A light source 11 to be generated, an optical branching unit 12 for branching the signal light from the light source with an equal optical power to generate a plurality of signal lights, and each of the plurality of the signal light split into the light A plurality of modulation means 14-1 and 14-2 that modulate at corresponding different frequencies, a photoelectric conversion means 18 that converts the output signal light from the optical fiber amplifier into an electrical signal, and a spectrum of the electrical signal is detected. Means 19 and modulated signal light from the plurality of modulation means is input to the plurality of cores of the multi-core fiber, Tsukara of the amplified signal light can be implemented as may be connected to the photoelectric conversion means.

  The signal light modulated at the first modulation frequency from the first modulation unit 14-1 among the plurality of modulation units is connected to the first core of the multi-core fiber, and the plurality of modulation units The signal light modulated at the second modulation frequency from the second modulation means 14-2 is connected to the second core of the multi-core fiber, and the second light of the multi-core optical fiber amplifier is included. A spectrum corresponding to the first modulation frequency and a spectrum corresponding to the second modulation frequency in the electrical signal converted from the amplified signal light from the first core, the output of the core being terminated Based on the difference, the crosstalk between the first core and the second core is obtained.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a spectrum observed in the crosstalk measurement method according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The output light from the core 1 modulated by the optical modulator 14-2 and amplified by the optical fiber amplifier 100 is photoelectrically converted, and the spectrum is observed by the electrical spectrum analyzer 19. At a frequency of 20 kHz, a peak corresponding to the signal light amplified by the core 1 of the amplification fiber is observed, and at a frequency of 30 kHz, a peak corresponding to the signal light leaked from the core 0 to the core 1 (crosstalk light). Observed.

  What is observed by the electric spectrum analyzer 19 is the power of each frequency component. On the other hand, since the photoelectric converter 18 converts the signal light power into the signal voltage, the following relationship exists between the observation power in the electric spectrum analyzer and the actual light power (signal light power and crosstalk light power). is there.

Electric spectrum analyzer observation power ∝ Optical power ² sets (1)
Therefore, when the crosstalk of the optical power displayed in dB (logarithmic) is calculated from the spectrum observed (displayed) in units of dBm like the spectrum shown in FIG. 7, it is necessary to perform conversion as follows. That is, when a peak power corresponding to the crosstalk light dBm displayed _P CROSS, a peak power corresponding to dBm displayed signal light was _{P Signal,} crosstalk dB display to be obtained becomes the following equation.
Crosstalk (dB) = 0.5 × P _CROSS −P _signal formula (2)

  However, the baseline of the spectrum of FIG. 7 is white noise due to beat noise of signal light and spontaneous emission amplified light (ASE). For this reason, the peak power corresponding to the above-described crosstalk light and the peak power corresponding to the signal light need to be corrected by subtracting the power of the white noise. Specifically, each peak power in the dBm display may be converted to a power in the true number display, and the white noise power in the true number display may be subtracted. If the corrected true number display power is converted back to dBm display, the corrected peak power can be obtained. Specifically, in the case of FIG. 7, the peak power corresponding to the signal light is −2.60 dBm, the peak power corresponding to the crosstalk light is −66.87 dBm, and the level of the signal light-ASE optical beat noise is −80.38 dBm. It is. By correcting the above-described equation (2) and white noise power, the crosstalk becomes −32.23 dB.

  The measurement between the two cores of the core 0 and the core 1 as described above is performed by selecting all the cores that input the modulated optical signal and the core that outputs the amplified light to the amplification fiber, and perform all the combinations of the two cores. As a result, all the crosstalks between the cores of the optical fiber amplifier 100 can be measured. As described above, by using the optical fiber amplifier crosstalk measuring apparatus and method of the present invention, it is possible to perform crosstalk measurement using the same signal light wavelength between different cores while the amplifier is in an amplification operation. .

  In the present embodiment, the power of each frequency component corresponding to the signal light and the crosstalk light was observed using the electric spectrum analyzer 19, but using a band pass filter and a power meter having a sufficiently narrow band, Even if the power of each frequency component of 20 kHz and 30 kHz is detected, crosstalk measurement can be similarly performed. Further, the modulation frequency for the signal light is not limited to the combination of 20 kHz and 30 kHz, and any frequency that can be distinguished from each other and can measure the peak level can be used.

  In this embodiment, the case where the gain of the optical fiber amplifier is 10 dB is illustrated, but when a gain different from this is set, crosstalk measurement is performed in different operating states of the optical fiber amplifier. Therefore, even if the gain of the optical fiber amplifier changes, the present invention can be applied without any change.

  If signal light modulated at different frequencies is input to different cores of an optical fiber amplifier, the types of signal light source, optical modulator, and configuration of the optical amplifier are different from those used in this embodiment. Even if used, the effect of the present invention is still obtained.

Second embodiment:
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the crosstalk measuring apparatus according to the second embodiment using the crosstalk measuring method of the present invention. The crosstalk measurement apparatus and measurement method of this embodiment are obtained by extending the 2-core measurement in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4 to the 7-core measurement. Therefore, only the differences from the configuration and operation of FIG. 4 will be described below. Similar to the configuration shown in FIG. 4, the crosstalk measurement system 20 includes a block that generates a test signal, an optical fiber amplifier 100 that measures crosstalk, and a block that measures crosstalk.

In the crosstalk measurement system 20, each signal light from the signal source 11 is modulated at seven different frequencies from the seven waveform generators 15-1 to 15-7 in the seven modulators 14-1 to 14-7. Then, the seven modulated signal lights are simultaneously input to each core of the optical fiber amplifier 100 having seven cores. The modulation frequency of each signal light is f ₁ = 20 kHz for the input signal light to the core 0 from the modulator 14-7, and f ₂ = 25.0 kHz to f ₇ = 37 for the signal light to the cores 1 to 6, respectively. The frequency is shifted at an equal interval of 2.5 kHz in the range of 0.5 kHz. Each input signal light is amplified by the optical fiber amplifier 100 with an equal gain (10 dB).

  The signal light amplified by the amplification fiber core 1 is terminated at the output of the optical fiber amplifier 100. Similarly, the signal light amplified by the cores 2 to 6 is also terminated at the output of the optical fiber amplifier 100. A broken-line path in the optical fiber amplifier 100 indicates crosstalk from each of the cores 0 to 6 to the core 7. A solid line path indicates an original amplification function in the core 7 of the fiber amplifier 100. The optical power of the amplified signal light is adjusted by variable optical attenuators 13-1 to 13-7, respectively. The level of the amplified signal light from the core 7 is adjusted by the variable optical attenuator 17 and input to the photoelectric converter 18. The signal light amplified by the photoelectric converter 18 is converted into an electric signal, and a signal voltage is output. The spectrum of the signal voltage is observed by the electric spectrum analyzer 19.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a spectrum observed in the crosstalk measurement apparatus and measurement method according to the second embodiment. The spectrum observed by the electrical spectrum analyzer 19 after photoelectric conversion of the output light from the core 0 is shown. A peak corresponding to the signal light amplified by the core 0 at a frequency of 20 kHz is observed, and a signal leaked from each of the cores 1 to 6 to the core 0 at intervals of 2.5 kHz in a frequency range of 25 kHz to 37.5 kHz. A peak corresponding to light (crosstalk light) is observed. The crosstalk from each of the core 1, core 2, core 3, core 4, core 5, core 6 to the core 0 by performing the above-described equation (2) and white noise power correction is −32 respectively. .20 dB, -32.18 dB, -32.19 dB, -31.26 dB, -31.94 dB, and -32.05 dB.

  Thus, according to the crosstalk measuring apparatus and the measuring method of the present embodiment, the crosstalk between cores from another core in a certain core can be collectively measured. The crosstalk of the optical fiber amplifier 100 can be measured by sequentially performing such crosstalk measurement on all the cores by sequentially selecting the cores from which the amplified optical output is extracted. Thus, by using the crosstalk method of the optical fiber amplifier of the present invention, crosstalk measurement between different cores using the same signal light wavelength can be performed more efficiently while the amplifier is operated. Become.

Third embodiment:
FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a crosstalk measuring apparatus according to a third embodiment using the crosstalk measuring method of the present invention. The crosstalk measurement system 30 is roughly composed of a block that generates a test signal, an optical fiber amplifier 200 that measures crosstalk, and a block that measures crosstalk. The block for generating the test signal includes a signal light source 21 for generating signal light, an optical branching device 22 for branching the signal light power into a plurality, variable optical attenuators 23-1, 23-2, 23-3, and an optical modulator 24. -1, 24-2, 24-3, waveform generators 25-1, 25-2, 25-3 that generate modulation waveforms to be input to the optical modulator, and polarization controllers 26-1, 26-2, 26 -3 and mode multiplexer 211. The block for measuring crosstalk includes a mode demultiplexer 212, a variable optical attenuator 27, a photoelectric converter 28 for converting an optical signal into an electric signal, and an electric spectrum analyzer 29.

A tunable laser that oscillates in the fundamental mode (LP ₀₁ mode) was used as the signal light source 21, and the oscillation wavelength was set to 1560.6 nm. The signal light from the signal light source 21 is branched into three substantially the same optical power by the optical splitter 22 and is input to the optical modulators 24-1, 24-2 and 24-3, each of which is composed of, for example, an acousto-optic modulator. The A rectangular wave having a frequency f ₁ = 20 kHz generated by the waveform generator 25-1 is input to the modulation signal input terminal of the optical modulator 24-1. Similarly, a rectangular wave having a frequency f ₂ = 30 kHz generated by the waveform generator 25-2 is input to the modulation signal input terminal of the optical modulator 24-2, and is input to the modulation signal input terminal of the optical modulator 24-3. Is inputted with a rectangular wave of frequency f ₃ = 35 kHz generated by the waveform generator 25-3. The three branched signal lights are modulated at 20 kHz, 30 kHz, and 35 kHz, respectively.

The signal lights modulated at the frequencies of 20 kHz, 30 kHz, and 35 kHz are adjusted in optical power by the variable optical attenuators 23-1, 23-2, and 23-3, respectively, and then LP ₀₁ of the mode multiplexer 211, Input to each port of LP _11o and LP _11e . The fundamental mode _{(LP 01} mode) signal light input to each port of the LP _11o and _{LP 11e} is an internal mode multiplexer 211 is converted to _{LP 11o} mode and _{LP 11e} mode, respectively. The signal light in the LP ₀₁ mode and the converted LP _11o mode and LP _11e mode are multiplexed inside the mode multiplexer 211 and input to the optical fiber amplifier 200.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration of an optical fiber amplifier that measures crosstalk by the crosstalk measurement method of the present invention. The optical fiber amplifier 200 is a three-mode Er-doped fiber and includes an amplification fiber 201 having one core. The amplifying fiber 201 uses three-mode pump light / signal light multiplexers 204a and 204b and three-mode optical isolators 205a and 205b in which higher-order modes than LP ₁₁ are cut off. An excitation light source 206 is connected to the multiplexer 204a.

The signal light of each mode modulated at different frequencies is amplified by the optical fiber amplifier 200 with equal gain (10 dB). The output signal light from the optical fiber amplifier is converted into the LP ₀₁ mode by the mode demultiplexer 212 and then output from different ports of the mode demultiplexer 212. Each signal light in the LP _11o mode and the LP _11e mode amplified by the optical fiber amplifier 200 is terminated at the output end of the mode demultiplexer 212. The amplified LP ₀₁ mode signal light is adjusted in optical power by the variable optical attenuator 27 and then input to the photoelectric converter 28. The photoelectric converter 28 converts the signal light into an electrical signal and outputs a signal voltage. The spectrum of the signal voltage is observed by the electric spectrum analyzer 29.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a spectrum of LP ₀₁ mode amplified light observed in the crosstalk measurement method of the third embodiment. In the spectrum of FIG. 12, a peak corresponding to the LP ₀₁ mode signal light is observed at a frequency of 20 kHz. At the same time, a peak corresponding to the signal light (crosstalk light) converted from the LP _11o mode to the LP ₀₁ mode is observed in the optical fiber amplifier at a frequency of 30 kHz. Furthermore, at 35 kHz, a peak corresponding to the signal light (crosstalk light) converted from the LP _11e mode to the LP ₀₁ mode is also observed in the optical fiber amplifier.

  Therefore, the crosstalk measuring device of the present invention is a multimode optical fiber amplifier intermode crosstalk measuring device using a multimode fiber that propagates and amplifies signal light of a plurality of modes as an amplification medium. A light source 21 that generates signal light having one mode, an optical branching unit 22 that splits the signal light from the light source with equal optical power and generates a plurality of signal lights, and the optical branch A plurality of modulation means (24-1 to 24-3) for modulating each of the plurality of signal lights at a corresponding different frequency, and at least one of the plurality of modulated signal lights, Mode combining means 211 for converting and combining one or more modes different from the first mode and inputting the combined test light to a multimode optical fiber amplifier; Mode demultiplexing means 212 for demultiplexing the signal light of the first mode and the one or more different modes from the amplified optical signal from the optical fiber amplifier; and the first demultiplexing means from the mode demultiplexing means This can be implemented as comprising a photoelectric conversion means 28 for converting the mode output signal light into an electric signal and a means 29 for detecting the spectrum of the electric signal.

  The signal light modulated at the first modulation frequency from the first modulation means among the plurality of modulation means is connected to a port corresponding to the first mode of the mode multiplexing means, The signal light modulated at the second modulation frequency from the second modulation means among the plurality of modulation means corresponds to a second mode different from the first mode of the mode multiplexing means. The amplified and demultiplexed signal light output corresponding to the second mode from the mode demultiplexing means connected to the port is terminated and corresponds to the first mode from the mode demultiplexing means In the electric signal converted from the amplified and demultiplexed signal light, the first mode is based on the difference between the spectrum corresponding to the first modulation frequency and the spectrum corresponding to the second modulation frequency. And the second mode So that the cross-talk between is required.

From these three peak levels and the baseline noise level, the inter-mode crosstalk is obtained by correcting the white noise power by the equation (2) described in the first embodiment. In FIG. 12, the peak power corresponding to the LP ₀₁ mode signal light is −12.32 dBm, the peak power corresponding to the LP _11o mode crosstalk light is −77.00 dBm, and the peak power corresponding to the LP _11e mode crosstalk light is −76. The beat noise level of the signal light and the ASE light is -85.27 dBm. By correcting the expression (2) and the white noise power, the cross talk of the LP _11o mode and the cross talk of the LP _11e mode are −32.69 dB and −32.59 dB, respectively.

  In the present embodiment, the inter-mode crosstalk generated in the mode demultiplexer 212 used for the measurement is −55 dB or less, which is sufficiently smaller than the inter-mode crosstalk value of the optical fiber amplifier. For this reason, there was no influence of the crosstalk of the mode duplexer on the measured crosstalk value between modes. However, in the case where the inter-mode crosstalk of the used mode demultiplexer has a magnitude that cannot be ignored with respect to the inter-mode crosstalk value of the optical fiber amplifier, the following consideration is required. For example, when the crosstalk of the mode demultiplexer is larger than about 1/10 of the crosstalk between modes of the optical fiber amplifier, correction is necessary for more accurate crosstalk measurement.

  In the situation where the above-described correction due to the mode demultiplexer is necessary, the peak power corresponding to the crosstalk light observed by the electric spectrum analyzer 29 is the crosstalk light power generated in the optical fiber amplifier 200 and the mode demultiplexing. This is the sum of crosstalk light generated in the vessel 212. In such a case, the optical fiber amplifier 200 in FIG. 10 is removed, and the measurement system in which the output of the mode multiplexer 211 and the input of the mode duplexer 212 are short-circuited, The inter-mode crosstalk correction value of the mode duplexer 212 is measured. At this time, since no amplifier is present, the spectrum observed by the electric spectrum analyzer 29 does not include white noise. Correction is performed from the peak level of the crosstalk light measured by the electric spectrum analyzer, using the crosstalk light power level correction value generated by the mode demultiplexer 212 described above. As in the case of correction for subtracting white noise, more accurate crosstalk of the optical fiber amplifier can be measured by performing correction for subtracting the power of the crosstalk light generated by the mode demultiplexer displaying the true number.

  By measuring the crosstalk between modes as described above for the signal light output of each mode, the crosstalk between modes of all the optical fiber amplifiers can be measured.

  As described above, crosstalk measurement between different modes can be performed by using the crosstalk method of the optical fiber amplifier of the present invention. In the measurement method of the present embodiment, the power of the frequency component corresponding to the signal light and the crosstalk light was observed with an electric spectrum analyzer, but using a bandpass filter and a power meter having a sufficiently narrow band, Even if the power of each frequency component of 30 kHz and 35 kHz is detected, the crosstalk can be measured similarly. The modulation frequency of the signal light is not limited to 20 kHz, 30 kHz, and 35 kHz, and any combination of frequencies that can be distinguished from each other and can measure the peak level can be used.

  In this embodiment, the case where the gain of the optical fiber amplifier is 10 dB is illustrated, but when a gain different from this is set, crosstalk measurement is performed in different operating states of the optical fiber amplifier. Therefore, even if the gain of the optical fiber amplifier changes, the present invention can be applied without any change.

  As long as signal light modulated at different frequencies is input to different modes of the optical fiber amplifier, the types of the signal light source and optical modulator, the configuration of the optical amplifier, etc. are different from those used in this embodiment. Even if used, the effect of the present invention is still obtained.

Fourth embodiment:
FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a crosstalk measuring apparatus according to a fourth embodiment using the crosstalk measuring method of the present invention. The crosstalk measurement system 40 is roughly composed of a block that generates a test signal, an optical fiber amplifier 300 that measures crosstalk, and a block that measures crosstalk. A block for generating a test signal includes a signal light source 31 that generates signal light, an optical branching device 32 that branches signal light power into a plurality (six), variable optical attenuators 33-1a, 33-2a, 33-3a, 33-1b, 33-2b, 33-3b, optical modulators 34-1a, 34-2a, 34-3a, 34-1b, 34-2b, 34-3b, modulation waveforms to be input to each optical modulator are generated. Waveform generators 35-1a, 35-2a, 35-3a, 35-1b, 35-2b, 35-3b, polarization controllers 36-1a, 36-2a, 36-3a, 36-1b, 36- 2b, 36-3b and two mode multiplexers 311a and 311b. The block for measuring crosstalk includes mode demultiplexers 312a and 312b, a variable optical attenuator 37, a photoelectric converter 38 for converting an optical signal into an electric signal, and an electric spectrum analyzer 39.

A tunable laser that oscillates in the fundamental mode (LP ₀₁ mode) was used as the signal light source 31, and the oscillation wavelength was set to 1560.6 nm. The signal light from the signal light source 31 is branched into six substantially the same optical power by the optical branching device 32, and each of the optical modulators 34-1a, 34-2a, 34-3a, 34- configured by an acousto-optic modulator, for example. 1a, 34-2a and 34-3a.

A rectangular wave having a frequency f _1a = 20 kHz from the waveform generator 35-1a is input to the modulation signal input terminal of the optical modulator 34-1a. Similarly, rectangular waves having different frequencies are input to the other optical modulators. That is, a rectangular wave having a frequency f _2a = 25 kHz from the waveform generator 35-2a is generated at the modulation signal input terminal of the optical modulator 34-2a, and a waveform is generated at the modulation signal input terminal of the optical modulator 34-3a. A rectangular wave with a frequency f _3a = 27.5 kHz from the device 35-3a, and a rectangular wave with a frequency f _1b = 30 kHz from the waveform generator 35-1b at the modulation signal input terminal of the optical modulator 34-1b, A rectangular wave having a frequency f _2b = 35 kHz from the waveform generator 35-2b is provided at the modulation signal input terminal of the optical modulator 34-2b, and a waveform generator 35 is provided at the modulation signal input terminal of the optical modulator 34-3b. A rectangular wave having a frequency f _3b from −3b = 37.5 kHz is input.

The signal light branched into six by the optical splitter 32 is modulated at 20 kHz, 25 kHz, 27.5 kHz, 30 kHz, 35 kHz, and 37.5 kHz, respectively. Each signal light modulated at each frequency is adjusted in optical power by the variable optical attenuators 33-1a, 33-2a, 33-3a, 33-1b, 33-2b, 33-3b, respectively. The signals are input to the LP ₀₁ , LP _11o and LP _11e ports of the mode multiplexers 311a and 311b. LP _11o, the fundamental mode _{(LP 01} mode) signal light input to each port of the _{LP 11e,} the mode multiplexer 311a, in the interior of the 311b, respectively _{LP 11o mode,} is converted to _{LP 11e} mode. The LP ₀₁ mode and the mode-converted LP _11o mode and LP _11e mode signal lights are multiplexed inside the mode multiplexers 311 a and 311 b and input to the optical fiber amplifier 300.

The configuration of the optical fiber amplifier 300 in the crosstalk measurement apparatus and measurement method of this embodiment is similar to that of the optical fiber amplifier 100 used in the first embodiment shown in FIG. The amplification fiber is an Er-doped fiber having seven cores, and each core propagates and amplifies signal light of three modes (LP ₀₁ , LP _11o , LP _11e ). The configuration of the cores and the numbering of the cores are the same as those shown in FIG.

Each signal light modulated at frequencies 20 kHz, 25 kHz, and 27.5 kHz is sent to the core 0 of the optical fiber amplifier 300, and each signal light modulated at frequencies 30 kHz, 35 kHz, and 37.5 kHz is sent to the core 1 of the optical fiber amplifier 300. Each is input and amplified with an equal gain of 10 dB. The output signal light from the core 0 of the optical fiber amplifier is converted into LP ₀₁ mode respectively mode demultiplexer 312a, and output from different ports of mode demultiplexer 312a. Similarly, the output signal light from the core 1 of the optical fiber amplifier is converted into LP ₀₁ mode respectively mode demultiplexer 312b, are output from different ports of mode demultiplexer 312b.

Each signal light of the LP _11o mode and the LP _11e mode amplified by the core 0 is terminated at the output end of the mode demultiplexer 312a, and each of the LP ₀₁ mode, the LP _11o mode, and the LP _11e mode amplified by the core 1 The signal light is terminated at the output end of the mode demultiplexer 312b. The LP ₀₁ mode signal light amplified by the core 0 is adjusted in optical power by the variable optical attenuator 37 and then input to the photoelectric converter 38. In the photoelectric converter 38, the signal light is converted into an electric signal and a signal voltage is output. The signal voltage is observed as a spectrum by the electric spectrum analyzer 39.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a spectrum of LP ₀₁ mode amplified light observed in the crosstalk measurement method of the fourth embodiment. A peak corresponding to the LP ₀₁ mode signal light is observed at a frequency of 20 kHz. Along with this, a peak due to crosstalk between modes in the core 0 is observed at frequencies of 25 kHz and 27.5 kHz. Further, at frequencies of 30 kHz, 35 kHz, and 37.5 kHz, peaks due to crosstalk between cores 1 and 0 and crosstalk between modes can be observed. That is, in the crosstalk measurement system of the present embodiment, the overall crosstalk of the entire optical fiber amplifier in which the crosstalk effect between the two cores and the crosstalk effect between the modes are superimposed can be obtained.

From the peak level and the baseline noise level, the inter-core crosstalk and the inter-mode crosstalk are obtained by correcting the expression (2) described in the first embodiment and the white noise power. 14, the inter-mode crosstalk in the core _{0, LP 11o} → _{LP 01} is _{-31.54dB, LP 11e} → _{LP 01} is -31.73DB, inter-core crosstalk and inter-mode cross from core 1 to core 0 talk, _{LP 01} of the _{LP 01} → core 0 of the core 1 is -32.69dB, _{LP 01} of the _{LP 11o} → core 0 of the core 1 is -35.03dB, _{LP 01} of the _{LP 11e} → core 0 of the core 1 is - It was determined to be 34.84 dB.

  Therefore, the crosstalk measuring apparatus of the present invention is capable of propagating and amplifying signal light of a plurality of modes, and uses a multi-core multi-mode fiber having a plurality of cores doped with rare earth as an amplification medium. In an apparatus for measuring crosstalk between cores and crosstalk between modes in an amplifier, a light source 31 that generates signal light having a first mode as test light, and optical power that equally divides the signal light from the light source. Optical branching means 32 for branching the optical signal to generate a plurality of signal lights, a plurality of modulation means for modulating each of the plurality of signal lights that have been split at different frequencies, and the plurality of modulated lights At least one of the signal lights is converted into one or more modes different from the first mode and combined, and the combined light is combined. Test light is input to a multimode optical fiber amplifier, and at least two or more mode multiplexing means (311a, 311b) each corresponding to one core of the multicore / multimode fiber, and from the optical fiber amplifier From the amplified optical signal, the signal light in the first mode and the one or more different modes is demultiplexed, and at least two modes corresponding to one core of the multi-core multi-mode fiber. Wave means (312a, 312b), photoelectric conversion means 38 for converting the output signal light of the first mode from the mode demultiplexing means into an electric signal, and means 39 for detecting the spectrum of the electric signal. Can be implemented.

  Further, of the plurality of modulation means, the mode multiplexing means corresponding to the first core of the multi-core multi-mode fiber, in which the signal light modulated by the first modulation frequency from the first modulation means The signal light connected to the port corresponding to the first mode and modulated by the second modulation frequency from the second modulation means among the plurality of modulation means is the multi-core multi-mode fiber. A third modulation means of the plurality of modulation means connected to a port corresponding to a second mode different from the first mode of the mode multiplexing means corresponding to the first core The signal light modulated at the third modulation frequency is connected to the port corresponding to the first mode of the mode multiplexing means corresponding to the second core of the multicore multimode fiber, Multiple Of the modulation means, the signal light modulated at the fourth modulation frequency from the fourth modulation means is the mode multiplexing means corresponding to the second core of the multicore / multimode fiber. Connected to a port corresponding to the second mode different from the first mode, the output of the second mode of the at least two or more mode demultiplexing means is terminated, and the at least two or more mode multiplexing means Of the mode combining means corresponding to the second core, the output of the first mode is terminated, and the mode combining corresponding to the first core of the at least two mode combining means is performed. In the electrical signal converted from the amplified and demultiplexed signal light corresponding to the first mode of the wave means, the spectrum corresponding to the first modulation frequency and the spectrum corresponding to the second modulation frequency. Crosstalk between the first mode and the second mode in the first core is determined based on the difference from the Torr, and the spectrum corresponding to the third modulation frequency, Based on a difference from a spectrum corresponding to a fourth modulation frequency, crosstalk between modes in the second core between the first mode and the second mode is obtained, and the first modulation is performed. Based on the difference between the spectrum corresponding to the frequency and the spectrum corresponding to the fourth modulation frequency, between the first mode of the first core and the second mode of the second core. Inter-core crosstalk and inter-mode crosstalk are required.

  When the inter-mode crosstalk of the mode demultiplexers 312a and 312b to be used has a magnitude that cannot be ignored with respect to the inter-mode crosstalk value of the optical fiber amplifier, the mode demultiplexing is the same as described in the third embodiment. It is necessary to correct the crosstalk of the instrument.

  As described above, crosstalk between different cores and modes can be measured simultaneously by using the optical fiber amplifier crosstalk method of the present embodiment.

  In the measurement method of the present embodiment, the power of the frequency component corresponding to the signal light and the crosstalk light is observed with an electric spectrum analyzer, but each modulation is performed using a bandpass filter and a power meter having a sufficiently narrow band. Even if the power of the frequency component is detected, the crosstalk can be measured similarly. Further, the modulation frequency of the signal light is not limited to 20 kHz, 25 kHz, 27.5 kHz, 30 kHz, 35 kHz, and 37.5 kHz, and any combination of frequencies that can be distinguished from each other and can measure the peak level can be used.

  In this embodiment, the case where the gain of the optical fiber amplifier is 10 dB is illustrated, but when a gain different from this is set, crosstalk measurement is performed in different operating states of the optical fiber amplifier. Therefore, even if the gain of the optical fiber amplifier changes, the present invention can be applied without any change.

  If signal light modulated at different frequencies is input to different cores and different modes of the optical fiber amplifier, the signal light source, optical modulator, optical amplifier configuration, etc. used are different from those used in this embodiment. Even so, there is no difference that the effects of the present invention can be obtained.

  The above-described crosstalk measurement device is a step of generating a test light signal as in each embodiment under the control of a computer including a central control unit (CPU), a memory, and the like. The present invention can also be implemented as a method invention including at least a step of connecting and inputting test light to a predetermined core of an optical fiber amplifier, and a step of measuring each electric signal level corresponding to each crosstalk by an electric spectrum analyzer or the like. For each electric signal level corresponding to each crosstalk, the step of correcting the above-mentioned equation (2) and the white noise power, or correcting the inter-mode crosstalk of the mode duplexer to be used is included. You can also.

  As described above in detail, the optical fiber amplifier crosstalk measuring apparatus and measuring method according to the present invention allows signals having the same wavelength between different cores, which is impossible with the conventional measuring method in a multi-core optical fiber amplifier. Crosstalk measurement using light can be realized. In addition, crosstalk between modes in the multimode optical fiber amplifier can be measured.

  The present invention is generally applicable to communication systems. In particular, it can be used in an optical communication system such as SDM optical transmission.

10, 20, 30, 40 Crosstalk measurement system 11, 21, 31, 402, 411, 412 Signal light source 12, 22, 32 Optical splitters 13-1 to 13-7, 23-1 to 23-3, 33 1a to 33-3a, 33-1b to 33-3b Variable optical attenuator 14-1 to 14-7, 24-1 to 24-3, 34-1a to 34-3a, 34-1b to 34-3b Optical modulation 15-1 to 15-7, 25-1 to 25-3, 35-1a to 35-3a, 35-1b to 35-3b Waveform generators 16-1 to 16-7, 26-1 to 26-3 , 36-1a to 36-3a, 36-1b to 36-3b Polarization controller 18, 28, 38 Photoelectric converter 19, 29, 39 Electric spectrum analyzer 100, 200, 405, 415 Optical fiber amplifier 101, 201 Amplification Fiber 102 fan Down 103 fanout 104-1a~104-7a, 104-1b~104-7b multiplexer 105-1a~105-7a, 105-1b~105-7b optical isolator 106-1～106-7 excitation light source
211, 311a, 311b Mode multiplexer 212, 312a, 312b Mode duplexer 408, 414 Optical power meter

Claims (2)

In an inter-core crosstalk measuring device of a multi-core optical fiber amplifier using a multi-core fiber having a plurality of cores doped with rare earths as an amplification medium,
As test light, a light source that generates signal light,
Optical branching means for branching the signal light from the light source with equal optical power to generate a plurality of signal lights;
A plurality of modulation means for modulating each of the plurality of signal light beams that have been optically branched at a corresponding different frequency;
Photoelectric conversion means for converting the output signal light from the optical fiber amplifier into an electrical signal;
Means for detecting a spectrum of the electrical signal,
Modulated signal light from the plurality of modulation means is input to the plurality of cores of the multi-core fiber, amplified signal light from one of the plurality of cores is connected to the photoelectric conversion means ,
The signal light modulated at the first modulation frequency from the first modulation means among the plurality of modulation means is connected to the first core of the multi-core fiber,
The signal light modulated at the second modulation frequency from the second modulation means among the plurality of modulation means is connected to the second core of the multi-core fiber,
In the electric signal converted from the amplified signal light from the first core, the output of the second core of the multi-core optical fiber amplifier is terminated, and the spectrum corresponding to the first modulation frequency, A crosstalk measuring apparatus between cores, wherein crosstalk between the first core and the second core is obtained based on a difference from a spectrum corresponding to a second modulation frequency . The means for detecting the spectrum is a power meter combined with an electric spectrum analyzer or a narrow-band band-pass filter for measuring the power of a spectrum of a specific frequency corresponding to the modulation frequency in the electric signal. The crosstalk measuring device according to claim 1 .