Optical amplifier module

A multi-stage optical amplifier module comprising

• an input stage responsive to an incoming optical signal and an amplifying light signal along an input at a common housing sidewall, the input stage including first and second turning mirrors for re-directing the incoming signal to exit at an output along the common housing sidewall, wherein the angular positioning of the first and second turning mirrors is adjustable to minimize insertion loss between the input and the output of the input stage;
• an amplifying arrangement coupled to the input stage at the common sidewall for generating an amplified version of the incoming optical signal;
• and
• an output stage coupled to the output of the amplifying arrangement along the common sidewall, the output stage for providing an amplified signal as the multi-stage optical amplifier output, the multi-stage optical amplifier disposed within a housing including optical inputs, optical outputs, electrical inputs and electrical outputs, with each stage supporting the transmission of the incoming optical signal and amplified optical signal as free-space beams and including a plurality of discrete optical components to interact with the free-space beams and provide the amplified optical output signal.