Patent ID: 6512629
Filing Date: 2003-01-28
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
A varying lasing semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) device for amplifying an optical signal, the device comprising:an input for receiving the optical signal; an output for transmitting an amplified version of the optical signal; a semiconductor gain medium having an amplifying path coupled between the input and the output for amplifying the optical signal propagating along the amplifying path; a laser cavity including the semiconductor gain medium; a pump input coupled to the semiconductor gain medium for receiving a pump to pump the semiconductor gain medium above a lasing threshold for the laser cavity, whereby a gain of the semiconductor gain medium is clamped to a gain value which is substantially independent of an amplitude of the optical signal propagating along the amplifying path; and wherein each point along the amplifying path is characterized by a design parameter which varies along the amplifying path.