Bit-Error-Rate Measurements of a Multi-Thousand-Kilometer Fiber-Amplifier Transmission System Using a Circulating Loop

Recently, we reported the results of a 2.4 Gb/s and 5 Gb/s feasibility demonstration of long distance erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) transmission systems using a circulating loop[1] The significance of this experiment was threefold. First, it demonstrated that high bit rate all-optical EDFA transmission systems are capable of achieving transoceanic distances. Second, it demonstrated a new measurement technique in which bit-error-rate (BER) is measured in a circulating loop. And, third, it achieved a new record in bit rate distance products.