JDSU intros amplifier pump lasers

MARCH 19, 2007 -- JDSU (search for JDSU) has introduced two new high-performance products and disclosed what it claims is industry-leading reliability data related to its Erbium-doped Fiber Amplifier (search for EDFA) 980-nm pump laser portfolio. EDFAs are a critical network element that bolsters the performance of agile optical networks (AON) to support the proliferation of bandwidth-hungry applications such as video on-demand, IPTV, and online gaming. 

First, JDSU announced the release of its new 3000 Series 980-nm pump, which produces 660 mW of optical power, allowing for improved amplifier designs that capitalize on increased power to reduce the component count and noise figure of EDFAs. The 3000 Series represents the highest power Telcordia-qualified 980 nm pump laser available in the market today, say JDSU representatives.

In addition, JDSU launched the new 2945 Series 980-nm pump, which it says provides a 20% reduction in power consumption compared to previous offerings. This new pump produces 400 mW of optical power, while operating at an elevated internal temperature of 45 ° C. The 2945 Series is enabled by laser chip technology that no longer requires power-hungry refrigeration down to 25 ° C for reliable operation. 

"As network providers seek to support increased traffic generated by bandwidth hungry services, the need for innovative solutions that deliver amplification across the network is critical," explains Toby Strite, manager of high power laser marketing at JDSU. "JDSU's new pump lasers boost amplifier capability within agile optical networks by raising the bar for performance and efficiency."

JDSU also disclosed that its current 980-nm pump lasers have performed in the field at a reliability figure below 5 FIT, based on more than five billion estimated deployment hours. This figure, which equates to less than one failure every two hundred million accumulated field hours, is five times better than any previously disclosed 980-nm pump laser failure rate, says the company. Network operators depend on the reliability of JDSU's pumps to prevent network downtime and costly service calls.

 "JDSU is widely considered to be the industry leader in laser pump reliability, and its latest FIT rate certainly attests to this," asserts Tom Hausken, director at Strategies Unlimited, a market research firm specializing in photonics.

The new products will be showcased in JDSU's booth (#2421) next week during OFC/NFOEC 2007 in Anaheim, CA.

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