BS EN IEC 61291-1:2018

What is BS EN IEC 61291‑1 - Optical amplifiers about?  

BS EN IEC 61291 is a series on optical amplifiers. An optical amplifier is a device that amplifies an optical signal directly, without the need to first convert it to an electrical signal. BS EN IEC 61291‑1 applies to all commercially available optical amplifiers (OAs) and optically amplified assemblies. BS EN IEC 61291‑1 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 BS EN IEC 61291‑1 is: 

• To establish uniform requirements for transmission, operation, reliability, and environmental properties of OA’s 
• To aid the purchaser in the selection of consistently high-quality OA products for his particular applications 

Parameters specified in BS EN IEC 61291‑1 for optical amplifiers are those characterizing the transmission, operation, reliability, and environmental properties of the optical amplifier 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 optical amplifier device or assembly. 

Who is BS EN IEC 61291‑1 - Optical amplifiers for? 

BS EN IEC 61291‑1 on the optical amplifier is useful for: 

• Telecommunication component manufacturers 
• Telecommunication equipment manufacturers 
• Design engineers 
• Quality control personnel 

Why should you use BS EN IEC 61291‑1 - Optical amplifiers?  

Optical amplifiers are important in optical communication and laser physics. They are used as optical repeaters in the long-distance fibre optic cables which carry much of the world's telecommunication links. The definitions listed in BS EN IEC 61291‑1 refer to the meaning of the terms used in the specifications of optical amplifiers. The list of parameter definitions of optical amplifiers, given in BS EN IEC 61291‑1, is divided into two parts: the first part, lists those parameters relevant for optical amplifier devices, namely power, pre-, line- and distributed amplifiers; the second part, lists the parameters relevant for optically amplified, elementary assemblies, namely the optically amplified transmitter (OAT) and the optically amplified receiver (OAR). 

In BS EN IEC 61291‑1, two different operating conditions are referred to: nominal operating conditions, which are those suggested by the manufacturer for normal use of the optical amplifier, and limit operating conditions, in which all the parameters are adjustable by the user (e.g., temperature, gain, pump laser injection current) are at their maximum values, according to the absolute maximum ratings stated by the manufacturer. The parameters defined in BS EN IEC 61291‑1 depending on the temperature and polarization state of input channels. The temperature and state of polarization should be kept constant or controlled or be measured and reported together with the measured parameter. Using BS EN IEC 61291‑1 you can understand commercially available optical amplifiers (OAs) and optically amplified assemblies. 

What’s changed since the last update?  

BS EN IEC 61291‑1:2018 supersedes BS EN 61291‑1:2012. BS EN IEC 61291‑1:2018 includes some technical changes with respect to BS EN 61291‑1:2012. These include: 

• Terms have been added for parameters from IEC 61290-4-3 and IEC 61290-10-5 
• Clause 4 Classification has been removed since this system is judged to be unused 
• The definition of polarization mode dispersion (PMD) has been simplified