DIN EN 61290-10-5:2015-03

This standard applies to distributed Raman amplifiers (DRAs). It specifies uniform requirements for precise and reliable measurements of the DRA parameters of channel on-off gain, pump unit insertion loss, channel net gain and channel signal-spontaneous noise figure. The measurement method is largely based on the interpolated source subtraction method using an optical spectrum analyser. A fundamental difference between these amplifiers and discrete amplifiers, such as erbium-doped optical fibre amplifiers (EDFAs), is that the latter can be described using a black box approach with well-defined input and output ports. On the other hand, a DRA is basically a pump module, with the actual amplification process taking place along the transmission fibre. This difference means that standard methods described in other parts of IEC 61290 for measuring amplifier parameters, such as gain and noise figure, cannot be applied without modification. The responsible committee is DKE/UK 412.2 "Komponenten für Kommunikationskabelanlagen" ("Components for communication cable installations") of the DKE (German Commission for Electrical, Electronic and Information Technologies) at DIN and VDE.