Optical PCB and a method of making an optical PCB

An optical printed circuit board comprising:

• plural polymer waveguide sections from independent waveguides, each of the sections being doped with an amplifying dopant;
• an optical pump source to pump the plural polymer waveguide sections, wherein the plural waveguide sections are routed so as to pass through an amplification zone in which the plural polymer waveguide sections are arranged close or adjacent to one another such that the optical pump source is able to pump plural of the optical waveguide sections;
• and,
• crosstalk suppression elements to reduce crosstalk between the plural polymer waveguide sections.

A method of making an optical amplification node, the method comprising:

• providing a PCB substrate;
• on the substrate forming plural waveguides;
• routing at least two of the waveguides so that they pass in close proximity to each other;
• forming between the at least two waveguides one or more crosstalk suppression elements;
• doping the at least two waveguides in the region in which they pass in close proximity to each other so as to form plural doped polymer waveguide sections and to enable the waveguides to amplify optical signals passing therethrough in the presence of pump radiation.