Lasing semiconductor optical amplifier with output power monitor and control

A vertical cavity lasing SOA output power detection and control system comprising:

• a plurality of vertical cavity lasing SOAs for amplifying at least one optical signal, each vertical cavity lasing SOA outputting a ballast laser signal which acts as a ballast with respect to the amplification of the at least one optical signal in each lasing SOA;
• at least one detector coupled with each lasing SOA, each detector converting a particular ballast laser signal to an electrical signal;
• and
• a power monitor coupled to the at least one detector, wherein the power monitor analyzes each electrical signal from each detector to determine a power level of each ballast laser signal, wherein a pump current of each lasing SOA is adjusted based on the power level of each corresponding ballast laser signal such that an output signal of each vertical cavity lasing SOA is amplified without saturating the vertical cavity lasing SOA.

A method for controlling an output power of an optical signal amplified in a lasing SOA, the method comprising the steps of:

• amplifying an optical signal as the optical signal travels through an active region of a lasing SOA:
• outputting a ballast laser signal from the lasing SOA, wherein the ballast laser signal acts as a ballast with respect to amplification of the optical signal;
• detecting the ballast laser signal with a detector coupled to the lasing SOA;
• monitoring a power of the detected ballast laser signal;
• and
• adjusting a pumping current of the lasing SOA to control amplification of the output optical signal and to prevent the lasing SOA from saturation based on the power of the detected ballast laser signal.

A lasing semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) comprising:

• a first lasing SOA that outputs a ballast laser signal that acts as a ballast to an optical signal being amplified by the first lasing SOA;
• a detector coupled to the first lasing SOA, wherein the detector detects the ballast laser signal and converts the laser ballast signal to an electrical signal;
• a power monitor than analyzes the electrical signal to determine whether the first lasing SOA is saturated or is approaching saturation;
• and
• a pump source that adjusts an output power of a second lasing SOA in response to a signal from the power monitor, the second lasing SOA further amplifying the optical signal.