A Raman amplifier, system and method using a plurality of pumps configured to
pump
light into an optical fiber so as to Raman-amplify an optical signal propagating
through the optical fiber. The Raman amplifier also includes an optical coupler
configured to optically interconnect the pumping device with the optical fiber,
and a control unit configured to control the pumping device so as to achieve a
target amplification performance. Further, the control unit monitors the Raman-amplified
WDM signal and determines if the monitored Raman-amplified WDM signal is within
an allowable tolerance of the target amplification performance. If the Raman-amplified
signal is not within the allowable tolerance, the control unit actively controls
the pumps to bring the monitored Raman-amplified signal within the allowable tolerance
of the target amplification profile.
