Semiconductor optical amplifier with a reduced noise figure
AssigneeDublin City University
InventorsPascal Landais, Frederic Surre
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A semiconductor optical amplifier for amplifying an optical signal. The amplifier comprises an input for receiving the optical signal and an output for outputting an amplified version of the optical signal. A semiconductor active medium is provided for defining an amplification path extending between the input and the output for amplifying the optical signal as the optical signal propagates along the amplification path. A control means selectively controls the amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) of the semiconductor optical amplifier. The control means is co-operable with the active medium for selectively varying carrier density along the amplification path.
Claims45
A semiconductor optical amplifier for amplifying an optical signal, the amplifier comprising:
- an input for receiving the optical signal,
- an output for outputting an amplified version of the optical signal,
- a semiconductor active medium of substantially uniform dimensions defines an amplification path extending between the input and the output for amplifying the optical signal as the optical signal propagates along the amplification path, and
- a control arrangement being co-operable with the active medium and configured to selectively varying the carrier density along the amplification path so that the optical signal is preferentially amplified with respect to amplification of spontaneous emission associated with the active medium;
- the control arrangement comprises a lasing cavity defining a lasing portion and a non-lasing portion within the amplification path;
- the lasing cavity being arranged for clamping a predetermined percentage of the active medium to a predetermined gain value.
A semiconductor optical amplifier for amplifying an optical signal, the amplifier comprising:
- an input for receiving the optical signal,
- an output for outputting an amplified version of the optical signal,
- a semiconductor active medium of substantially uniform dimensions defines an amplification path extending between the input and the output for amplifying the optical signal as the optical signal propagates along the amplification path, and
- a lasing cavity arranged to incorporate a portion of the active medium such that the lasing cavity defines a lasing portion and a non-lasing portion within the amplification path for selectively varying the carrier density along the amplification path so that the optical signal is preferentially amplified with respect to amplification of spontaneous emission associated with the active medium;
- the lasing cavity being arranged for clamping a predetermined percentage of the active medium to a predetermined gain value.
A semiconductor optical amplifier for amplifying an optical signal, the amplifier comprising:
- an input for receiving the optical signal,
- an output for outputting an amplified version of the optical signal,
- a semiconductor active medium defining an amplification path extending between the input and the output for amplifying the optical signal as the optical signal propagates along the amplification path, and
- a resistor network arranged to selectively independently bias discrete sections of the active medium with individual currents for selectively varying the carrier density along the amplification path so that the optical signal is preferentially amplified with respect to amplification of spontaneous emission associated with the active medium.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.