Erbium-doped silica fiber modeling with overlapping factors

A simple model describing the evolution of pump, signal, and amplified spontaneous emission powers in an erbium-doped silica fiber is presented. The model is based on overlapping factors, depending on pump- and signal-coupled powers, which are systematically studied. Accurate results for gain and amplified spontaneous emission are obtained when this model is used. Experiments to measure the characteristic parameters of the fiber appearing in the model are described. Two main advantages of this model are found: computation time is considerably reduced and fiber characterization does not make it necessary to measure the parameters of the fiber as a function of radial or azimuthal coordinates.