Semiconductor optical amplifier providing high gain, high power and low noise figure

A method for amplifying an optical signal, comprising:

• providing a first semiconductor optical amplifier having a high gain and an input for receiving an optical signal, and an output;
• conducting at least one optical signal through the first semiconductor optical amplifier;
• amplifying the optical signal within the first semiconductor optical amplifier resulting in an amplified signal having a high output power;
• providing an optical signal isolator having an input in optical communication with the output of the first semiconductor optical amplifier, and an output, the optical signal isolator allowing for transmission of an optical signal is a single direction;
• conducting the amplified signal through the optical signal isolator;
• providing a second semiconductor optical amplifier having low confinement factor approximately between 1% and 2% to provide a low gain less than the first semiconductor optical amplifier, the second semiconductor optical amplifier having an input for receiving the amplified optical signal from the optical signal isolator, and an output;
• and
• additionally amplifying the amplified optical signal within the second semiconductor optical amplifier with the low gain of the second semiconductor optical amplifier and the high output power from the first semiconductor optical amplifier resulting in a twice amplified signal.

An optical communications system, comprising:

• an optical signal transmitter;
• a first semiconductor optical amplifier having a high gain and an input for receiving an optical signal from the transmitter, and an output, wherein the optical signal is amplified by the first semiconductor optical amplifier resulting in an amplified optical signal having a high output power;
• an optical signal isolator having an input in optical communication with the output of the first semiconductor optical amplifier, and an output, wherein the optical signal isolator receives the amplified signal from the first semiconductor optical amplifier and allows for transmission of an optical signal is a single direction;
• a second semiconductor optical amplifier having a low confinement factor approximately between 1% and 2% to provide a low gain less than the first semiconductor optical amplifier, the second semiconductor optical amplifier having an input for receiving the amplified optical signal from the optical signal isolator, and an output, wherein the amplified optical signal is amplified by the second semiconductor optical amplifier with the low gain of the second semiconductor optical amplifier and the high output power from the first semiconductor optical amplifier resulting in a twice amplified optical signal;
• and
• an optical signal receiver for receiving the twice amplified signal.

An optical amplifier, comprising:

• a first semiconductor optical amplifier having a high gain and an input for receiving an optical signal, and an output, wherein the optical signal amplified by the first semiconductor optical amplifier resulting in a first amplified optical signal having a high output power;
• an optical signal isolator having an input in optical communication with the output of the first semiconductor optical amplifier, and an output, wherein the optical signal isolator receives the first amplified signal from the first semiconductor optical amplifier and transmits the first optical signal in a single direction;
• an amplified spontaneous emissions filter having an input for receiving to amplified signal, and an output, wherein the input of the amplified spontaneous emissions filter is in optical communication with the output of the optical signal isolator;
• a gain flattening filter having an input for receiving the amplified signal, and an output, wherein the input of the gain flattening filter is in optical communication with the output of the amplified spontaneous emissions filter, and the output of the gain flattening filter is in optical communication with the input of the second semiconductor optical amplifier;
• and
• a second semiconductor optical amplifier having a low confinement factor approximately between 1% and 2% to provide a low gain less than the first semiconductor optical amplifier, the second semiconductor optical amplifier having an input for receiving the first amplified optical signal from the gain flattening filter, and an output, wherein the amplified optical signal is amplified by the second semiconductor optical amplifier with the low gain of the second semiconductor optical amplifier and the high output power from the first semiconductor optical amplifier resulting in a twice amplified optical signal.

An optical amplifier, comprising:

• a first semiconductor optical amplifier having a high gain and an input for receiving an optical signal, and an output, wherein the optical signal is amplified by the first semiconductor optical amplifier resulting in a first amplified optical signal having a high output power;
• an optical signal isolator having an input in optical communication with the output of the first semiconductor optical amplifier, and an output, wherein the optical signal isolator receives the first amplified signal from the first semiconductor optical amplifier and transmits the first optical signal in a single direction;
• an amplified spontaneous emissions filter having an input for receiving the amplified signal, and an output, wherein the input of the amplified spontaneous emissions filter is in optical communication with the output of the optical signal isolator, and the output of the spontaneous emissions filter is in optical communication with input of the second semiconductor optical amplifier;
• and,
• a second semiconductor optical amplifier having a low confinement factor approximately between 1% and 2% to provide a low gain less than the first semiconductor optical amplifier, the second semiconductor optical amplifier having an input for receiving the first amplified optical signal from the gain flattening filter, and an output, wherein the amplified optical signal is amplified by the second semiconductor optical amplifier with the low gain of the second semiconductor optical amplifier and the high output power from the first semiconductor optical amplifier resulting in a twice amplified optical signal.

An optical amplifier, comprising:

• a first semiconductor optical amplifier having a high gain and an input for receiving an optical signal, and an output, wherein the optical signal is amplified by the first semiconductor optical amplifier resulting in a first amplified optical signal having a high output power;
• an optical signal isolator having an input in optical communication with the output of the first semiconductor optical amplifier, and an output wherein the optical signal isolator receives the first amplified signal from the first semiconductor optical amplifier and transmits the first optical signal in a single direction;
• a gain flattening filter having an input for receiving the amplified signal, and an output, wherein the input of the gain flattening filter is in optical communication with the output of the optical signal isolator, and the output of the gain flattening filter is in optical communication with the input of the second semiconductor optical amplifier;
• and
• a second semiconductor optical amplifier having a low confinement factor approximately between 1% and 2% to provide a low gain less than the first semiconductor optical amplifier, the second semiconductor optical amplifier having an input for receiving the first amplified optical signal from the optical signal isolator, and an output, wherein the amplified optical signal is amplified by the second semiconductor optical amplifier with the low gain of the second semiconductor optical amplifier and the high output power from the first semiconductor optical amplifier resulting in a twice amplified optical signal.