INVITED PAPER Joint Special Section on Opto-electronics and Communications for Future Optical Network Multicore EDFA for Space Division Multiplexing

SUMMARY We propose multi-core erbium-doped fiber amplifiers for next-generation optical amplifiers utilized by space-division multiplexing technologies. Multi-core erbium-doped fiber amplifiers were studied widely as a means for overcoming exponential growth of internet traffi ci n the backbone network. We consider two approaches to excitation of erbium irons; One is core-pumping scheme, the other is cladding-pumping scheme. For a core-pumping configuration, we evaluate its applicability to future ultra long-haul network. In addition, we demonstrate that claddingpumping configuration will enable reduction of power consumption, size, and cost because one multimode pumping laser diode can excite several cores simultaneously embedded in a common cladding and amplify several