Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifiers (EDFA)

Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifiers (EDFAs) are devices used to boost the strength of optical signals in fiber-optic communication systems. They consist of a fiber optic cable doped with erbium ions, which emit light when energized. When a weak signal passes through, the EDFA amplifies it by transferring energy from a separate light source (pump laser) to the signal, increasing its power without converting it to electrical signals. This allows for long-distance data transmission with minimal loss and high efficiency, making EDFAs essential for modern high-speed internet and telecommunications networks.