Abstract
We demonstrate the simultaneous compensation of fast add/drop EDFA power transients and equalization of inter-channel power differentials. Within ~0.1 μs, add/drop multiplexing transients are completely removed and any power differences among the WDM channels are equalized to <0.5 dB; this method does not incur any relaxation oscillations. Our technique for correcting the power transients involves a dynamic feedback loop and an acousto-optic (AO) modulator. Additionally, our technique for equalizing the power between different WDM channels involves an integrated wavelength router, a parallel array of AO modulators, and a dynamic feedback loop. The use of a wavelength router combined with AO modulators may be superior to the use of an AOTF for equalization since the method reported here: (i) is 10 times faster, and (ii) allows for closer channel spacings.