novel analytical approximated solution for the

gain of broadband Raman amplifiers with multiple counter-pump

lasers is derived taking into account pump-pump interactions.

Validation against experimental data available in the literature

with two and three pumps is performed. In order to test the limits

of the approximated analytical solution, signal gain is numerically

obtained by simulation for Raman amplifiers built with different

types of fibers and covering bandwidths up to 100 nm.