This International Standard applies to all commercially available optical amplifiers (OAs) and
optically amplified modules. It applies to OAs using optically pumped fibers (OFAs based on
either rare-earth doped fibers or on the Raman effect), semiconductor OAs (SOAs) and
waveguides (POWAs).
The object of this standard is to establish uniform requirements for accurate and reliable
measurements, by means of the optical spectrum analyzer test method, of the following OA
parameters, as defined in IEC 61291-1:
a) nominal output signal power;
b) gain;
c) reverse gain;
d) maximum gain;
e) maximum gain wavelength;
f) maximum gain variation with temperature;
g) gain wavelength band;
h) gain wavelength variation;
i) gain stability;
j) polarization-dependent gain;
k) large-signal output stability;
l) saturation output power;
m) maximum input signal power;
n) maximum output signal power;
o) input power range;
p) output power range;
q) maximum total output power.
The object of this standard is specifically directed to single-channel amplifiers. For
multichannel amplifiers, one should refer to the IEC 61290-10 series.