Semiconductor based system and method for broad bandwidth transmission

An optical signal amplifier stage, comprising:

• an input wavelength division demultiplexing section having an input operable to receive an optical signal having a plurality of bands, wherein the input wavelength division demultiplexing section includes a first wavelength division demultiplexer and a plurality of second wavelength division demultiplexers, the first wavelength division demultiplexer is tuned to a first bandwidth of optical spectrum that includes the plurality of bands of the received optical signal, and each respective second wavelength division demultiplexer of the plurality of second wavelength division demultiplexers is tuned to one or more of the plurality of bands of the optical spectrum;
• an amplifier section including a plurality of semiconductor optical amplifiers, wherein each respective semiconductor optical amplifier of the plurality of semiconductor optical amplifiers includes an input coupled to a respective second wavelength division demultiplexer of the input wavelength division demultiplexing section and is configured to amplify a respective portion of the first bandwidth output from a respective second wavelength division demultiplexer of the plurality of second wavelength division demultiplexers;
• and
• an output wavelength division multiplexing section coupled to an output of each of the plurality of semiconductor optical amplifiers in the amplifier section, the output wavelength division multiplexing section including a plurality of primary output wavelength division multiplexers and a secondary output wavelength division multiplexer coupled to a respective output of each of the plurality of primary output wavelength division multiplexers, wherein the output wavelength division multiplexing section is operable to output an amplified optical signal of the first bandwidth,
• wherein the plurality of semiconductor optical amplifiers are tunable according to a set of parameters related to reducing a polarization dependent gain (PDG).

An optical communication system, comprising:

• a first transceiver;
• a second transceiver, to receive and transmit a set of optical signals between the second transceiver and the first transceiver;
• and
• a set of optical amplifier stages, disposed between the first transceiver and the second transceiver, wherein a given optical amplifier stage of the set of optical amplifier stages comprises:
• an input wavelength division demultiplexing (WDM) section having an input operable to receive an optical signal having a plurality of bands, wherein the input WDM section includes a first wavelength division demultiplexer and a plurality of second wavelength division demultiplexers, the first wavelength division demultiplexer is tuned to a first bandwidth of optical spectrum that includes the plurality of bands of the received optical signal, and each respective second wavelength division demultiplexer of the plurality of second wavelength division demultiplexers is tuned to one or more of the plurality of bands of the optical spectrum;
• an amplifier section including a plurality of semiconductor optical amplifiers, wherein each respective semiconductor optical amplifier of the plurality of semiconductor optical amplifiers includes an input coupled to a respective second wavelength division demultiplexer of the input WDM section and is configured to amplify a respective portion of the first bandwidth output from a respective second wavelength division demultiplexer of the plurality of second wavelength division demultiplexers;
• and
• an output WDM section coupled to an output of each of the plurality of semiconductor optical amplifiers in the amplifier section, the output WDM section including a plurality of primary output wavelength division multiplexers and a secondary output wavelength division multiplexer coupled to a respective output of each of the plurality of primary output wavelength division multiplexers, wherein the output WDM section is operable to output an amplified optical signal of the first bandwidth,
• wherein the plurality of semiconductor optical amplifiers are tunable according to a set of parameters related to reducing a polarization dependent gain (PDG).