Method for controlling signal gain of a raman amplifier

1. A method for dynamically controlling signal gain and saturation of a pumped Raman amplifier, the method comprising:

controlling a pump power of a pump signal of the pumped Raman amplifier in response to a plurality of monitored optical signals,

wherein said plurality of monitored optical signals comprises:

a signal light launched into a transmission line fiber connected to said pumped Raman amplifier, wherein said signal light launched into the transmission line fiber is used for a feed-forward pump control in order to control the signal gain; and

an amplified signal Rayleigh backscattered (RBS) light reflected back from the transmission line fiber, wherein said amplified signal Rayleigh backscattered (RBS) light comprises a pump signal and is used for a feedback pump control in order to control the gain saturation.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the signal light launched into the transmission line fiber is one of a data signal, a pump signal and a supervisory signal.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the amplified signal Rayleigh backscattered (RBS) light further comprises at least one of a back-reflected data signal and a supervisory signal.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said back-reflected data signal, and said supervisory signal are amplified by a Raman gain as said pump power is increased, while the pump signal is depleted.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein a gain of said amplified signal Rayleigh backscattered (RBS) light is proportional to the Raman gain.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising controlling a per channel data and a supervisory signal launch power into the transmission fiber.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using pump back reflection monitoring for closed loop gain control.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the amplified signal Rayleigh backscattered (RBS) light suffers a loss when compared to the Raman gain.

9. A pumped Raman amplifier comprising: a gain control unit adapted to control a pump power of an optical pump signal in response to a plurality of monitored optical signals,

wherein said plurality of monitored optical signals comprises:

a signal light launched into a transmission line fiber connected to said pumped Raman amplifier, wherein said signal light launched into the transmission line fiber is used for a feed-forward pump control in order to control the signal gain; and

an amplified signal Rayleigh backscattered (RBS) light reflected back from the transmission line fiber, wherein said amplified signal Rayleigh backscattered (RBS) light comprises a pump signal and is used for a feedback pump control in order to control the gain saturation.

10. A gain control unit for a pumped Raman amplifier, wherein said gain control unit is adapted to control a pump power of an optical pump signal in response to a plurality of monitored optical signals,

wherein said plurality of monitored optical signals comprises:

a signal light launched into a transmission line fiber connected to said pumped Raman amplifier, wherein said signal light launched into the transmission line fiber is used for a feed-forward pump control in order to control the signal gain; and

an amplified signal Rayleigh backscattered (RBS) light reflected back from the transmission line fiber, wherein said amplified signal Rayleigh backscattered (RBS) light comprises a pump signal and is used for a feedback pump control in orer to control the gain saturation.