A wide band erbium-doped fiber amplifier with a gain enhancement is provided
comprising
a first fiber amplifier adapted to amplify C-band components of an input optical
signal, a second fiber amplifier connected to the first fiber amplifier in series
while being disposed downstream from the first fiber amplifier to amplify L-band
components of the input optical signal. A C/L splitter is disposed between the
first and second fiber amplifiers and to split the amplified C and L-band optical
signals to flow along different paths. A fiber reflector is disposed downstream
from the second fiber amplifier to reflect the amplified L-band optical signal
to flow backwards toward the second fiber amplifier. A circulator is disposed between
the C/L splitter and the second fiber amplifier to guide the amplified L-band optical
signal, reflected to flow backwards by the fiber reflector, so that the amplified
L-band optical signal flows along a path different from that of optical signals
applied to the circulator. A C/L combiner combines the amplified C-band optical
signal split by the C/L splitter with the amplified L-band optical signal guided
by the circulator, and applies the resultant optical signal to an output stage.