Patent ID: 7002733
Filing Date: 2006-02-21
Classification: H01S,H04B

Abstract:
1. An optical amplification device comprising: a depolarizer for receiving an input optical signal and outputting a depolarized, optical signal; at least one semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) for receiving said depolarized optical signal and outputting an amplified optical signal, wherein said at least one SOA includes two amplifier stages, each of said two amplifier stages having a polarization dependent gain associated therewith; a polarization beam splitter for splitting said depolarized optical signal into a TM polarization component and a TE polarization component; a first polarization rotator for rotating said TM polarization component, wherein one of said two SOAs amplifier stages receives said rotated TM polarization component and one of said two amplifier stages receives said TE polarization component; a second polarization rotator for rotating an output of said one of said two amplifier stages that receives said TE polarization component; and a polarization beam combiner, for combining an output of said second polarization rotator and said one of said two amplifier stages that receives said rotated TM polarization component, to generate said amplified output signal.