A discrete optical amplifier system is disclosed comprising a Dispersion
Compensating Fiber (DCF), a first order pump system, and a second order
pump system. The first order pump system is set to a first power and is
configured to backward pump onto the DCF. The second order pump system is
set to a second power and is configured to forward pump onto the DCF. One
or both of the first power and the second power are set based on a power
ratio. The first and second pump systems generate a gain in an optical
signal traveling on the DCF. The power ratio, the first power, and the
second power are set to generate a low noise figure for the gain in the
optical signal, and are set to distribute the gain along the DCF to reduce
fiber non-linearities affecting the optical signal while traveling over
the DCF.
