Numerical modelling of the pump-to-signal relative intensity noise transfer in two-pump fibre optical parametric amplifiers

An accurate numerical model to investigate the pump-to-signal relative intensity noise (RIN) transfer in two-pump fibre optical parametric amplifiers (2-P FOPAs) for low modulation frequencies is presented. Compared to other models in the field, this model takes into account the fibre loss, pump depletion as well as the gain saturation. As a result, the model allows to include a wide range of practical circumstances, both in and beyond the undepleted pump regime, related to different applications of FOPAs. In the small-signal or undepleted pump regime, the model predicts the ripples of the RIN spectrum very well and yields better results than those of other models. It is shown that beyond the small-signal regime, pump power variations do not remain unchanged over the length of the amplifier and for high signal powers, when the FOPA saturates, minimum pump-to-signal RIN transfer occurs. The results of the model are also compared with the available experimental data in the field and a very good agreement can be seen.