Gain-managed nonlinear amplification in an Erbium-doped fiber

To our knowledge, we report the first experimental demonstration of gain-managed nonlinear (GMN) amplification of femtosecond pulses in an Erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA). We investigated the GMN amplification using two different seed sources, operating at wavelengths of 1530 and 1560 nm. We obtained broadband output spectra spanning the entire C- and L-bands (1530-1620 nm). Our study shows that, in contrast to Yb-doped fiber amplifiers, it is not critical to choose a seed wavelength located at the short-wave edge of the gain bandwidth of the amplifier. Efficient and broadband GMN amplification can also be achieved with a seed located at 1560 nm wavelength.