This part of IEC 61291 applies to all commercially available optical amplifiers (OAs) and
optically amplified assemblies. It applies to OAs using optically pumped fibres (OFAs based
either on rare-earth doped fibres or on the Raman effect), semiconductors (SOAs), and
waveguides (POWAs). The object of this standard is:
- to establish uniform requirements for transmission, operation, reliability and environmental
properties of OAs;
- to provide assistance to the purchaser in the selection of consistently high-quality OA
products for his particular applications.
Parameters specified for OAs are those characterizing the transmission, operation, reliability
and environmental properties of the OA seen as a "black box" from a general point of view. In
the sectional and detail specifications a subset of these parameters will be specified
according to the type and application of the particular OA device or assembly.