Optical amplifier
AssigneeBritish Telecommunications plc
InventorsDominique David Marcenac, Derek Nesset, Anthony E. Kelly
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A semiconductor optical amplifier has an optical path from its input to its output through an optical amplification region, the path having a length that exceeds 1 mm. In use, the amplifier is fed at its input with a modulated optical signal that is modulated at a given bit rate, and a target wave, so that the amplifier produces modulation of the target wave according to the modulation of the optical signal. The path length is selected to be longer than that at which optical saturation occurs. The gain of the amplifier exhibits a −3 db bandwidth that extends beyond 20 GHz in respect of the modulation bit rate. The amplifier may also be used for four wave mixing.
Claims30
Semiconductor optical amplifier apparatus including:
- an optical path from an input to an output through an optical amplification region of a substantially constant width less than 50 μm along its length,
- wherein the path has a length through the region that exceeds 1 mm.
Optical apparatus comprising:
- a target wave source,
- a modulated optical source that is modulated at a given bit rate, and
- an optical amplifier to receive radiation from the sources and operative to produce modulation of the target wave according to the modulation of the modulated optical source whereby to produce a modulated target wave output,
- the amplifier having an optical path from an input to an output through an optical amplification region wherein the length of the path is selected to be longer than that at which optical gain saturation due to ASE in said region occurs.
Optical modulation apparatus comprising:
- a semiconductor optical amplifier that includes an optical path from an input to an output through an optical amplification region,
- first and second sources of different input optical radiation for the amplifier, whereby the amplifier produces an amplified optical output in dependence upon the optical radiation from the first and second source;
- and
- wherein the path has a length through the region that exceeds 1 mm and has a substantially constant width less than 50 μm along the length.
Use of an optical modulation apparatus comprising a semiconductor optical amplifier that includes:
- an optical path from an input to an output through an optical amplification region of a substantially constant width less than 50 μm along its length, and
- first and second sources of different input optical radiation for the amplifier, to produce an amplified optical output in dependence upon the optical radiation from the first and second sources wherein the path has a length through the region that exceeds 1 mm.
Semiconductor optical amplifier apparatus including:
- an optical path from an input to an output through an optical amplification region wherein the path has a length through the region that exceeds 3 mm, and a substantially constant width in said amplification region of less than 50 μm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.