Comparative analysis and performance evaluation of EDFA, SOA, and Raman amplifiers in passive optical networks

Abstract With broadband services, the demand among users for high-speed networks is rising day by day. But due to various parameters such as attenuation, scattering, and dispersion, the signal quality is degraded specifically for long distance communication. Due to which passive optical networks comes in picture where for better coverage and capacity with good signal quality, optical amplifiers play a major role. Optical amplifiers enhance the optical signal power directly, i.e., without converting in electrical domain. This paper represents a comparative analysis of three major optical amplifiers: Erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA), semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA), and Raman amplifiers, in terms of net gain, efficiency, and noise figure in passive optical environment. As per proposed results, EDFA demonstrates the highest net gain (≈34.6 dB), confirming its superior amplification efficiency and low noise figure. SOA, with a gain of ≈ 18.3 dB, provides moderate amplification suitable for compact or integrated systems but exhibits pattern-dependent gain saturation. The Raman amplifier, though distributed in nature, shows limited gain at lower pump powers (−12.96 dB at 10 dB pump), but performance improves with increased pump power to 26 dB, achieving ≈ 7 dB net gain.