Gain equalization of EDFA's with Bragg gratings

Flat-again amplifiers are needed to ensure proper amplification of every ch annel in wavelength-division-multiplexed communication systems, Such amplif iers can be realized by combining a precisely tailored filter with an erbiu m-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA), In this letter, we show that Bragg gratings can lead to accurate EDFA gain equalization, Reflection and transmission g ratings have been used to demonstrate gain equalization over 32 nm with exc ursion inferior to +/-0.1 and +/-0.3 dB, respectively. A maximum 0.04-dB no ise-figure penalty results from this process. By extension, Bragg gratings could also equalize the gain of any arbitrary gain profile, over any arbitr ary bandwidth.