100W C-band amplifiers for Tbit/s satellite links: EPOS project

In this paper, G&H present work on the development of extremely high-power optical fibre amplifier systems (EPOS) in the 1.5µm window for Tbit/s satellite links that will enable next generation optical satellite communications. The project focuses on developing a 100W optical amplifier for space and a 1000W amplifier system for ground use. Within this paper, a range of experimental and simulation results are presented for a 100W class-amplifier, including: FWM crosstalk, gain flatness under WDM operation, nonlinear polarization rotation under intensity modulation and power limits of Er-Yb fibres induced by parasitic lasing at 1μm.