System for forming a configurable optical amplifier

A configurable optical amplifier for optical amplification of one or more optical signals, the configurable optical amplifier comprising:

• a configurable optical amplifier platform comprising:
• an input module configured to receive the one or more optical signals;
• a mounting structure operatively connected to the input module and having defined therein a plurality of component compartments, the plurality of components being arranged in a plurality of series arranged and configured to receive a same type of free-space optical component in compartments of a given series, the mounting structure being configured to, in use, dispose the free-space optical components on optical paths of the one or more optical signals, the plurality of plurality of series comprising at least one of:
• a first series configured to receive optical isolators,
• a second series configured to receive optical filters, and
• a third series configured to receive optical attenuators,
• the component compartments of a same series of component compartments being aligned with one another, thereby forming a column of component compartments,
• each series of component compartments being configured to receive a plurality of corresponding free-space optical components such that the plurality of series of component compartments defines a plurality of rows of component compartments;
• and
• an active module operatively connected to the mounting structure, the active module being configured to receive outputs of the plurality of sections of the configurable optical amplifier and provide optical amplification thereto, the active module comprising an output module for outputting the one or more amplified optical signals;
• a plurality of free-space optical components comprising:
• at least one optical isolator configured to be disposed in the first series of component compartments;
• at least one optical filter configured to be disposed in the second series of component compartments;
• and
• at least one optical attenuator configured to be disposed in the third series of component compartments.