The principles of semiconductor laser diodes and amplifiers : analysis and transmission line laser modeling 2.5.4 Performance limits of the noise figure 2.6 Summary ; References ; 3 Optical Amplification in Semiconductor Laser Diodes ; 3.1 Introduction ; 3.2 Principles of Optical Amplification in Semiconductor Lasers ; 3.2.1 Optical processes in semiconductors 3.2.2 Analysis of optical gain in semiconductors 3.3 Semiconductor Laser Diodes as Optical Amplifiers ; 3.3.1 Optical amplification using homojunctions ; 3.3.2 Optical amplification using heterostructures ; 3.4 Types of Semiconductor Laser Amplifiers Optical communications technology is growing increasingly in importance with a rapid pace of development. Innovative optical devices have emerged from the integration of semiconductor laser diodes amplifiers and filters with optical waveguide technology. This well researched volume traces the evolution of semiconductor laser amplifiers (SLAs) from these technologies. Focusing on the principle applications of SLAs the author illustrates the growing importance of these functional components in the future of optical communications systems. This book will provide engineering and science students with a basic understanding of laser diode and optical amplification through the analysis of the performance characteristics of these devices both in theory and application. Practicing device engineers wishing to consolidate their knowledge in lightwave technology will also find this book an invaluable reference 2.3.4 Noise figure 2.4 Ideal Optical Amplifiers ; 2.5 Practical Optical Amplifiers ; 2.5.1 Performance limits of the amplifier signal gain ; 2.5.2 Performance limits of the amplifier bandwidth ; 2.5.3 Performance limits of saturation output power Contents ; Preface ; Acknowledgements ; 1 The Evolution of Optical Fibre Communication Systems ; 1.1 Introduction ; References ; 2 Basic Principles of Optical Amplifiers ; 2.1 Introduction ; 2.2 Interaction of Radiation with a Two Level System 2.2.1 Radiative processes 2.2.2 Spontaneous emission ; 2.2.3 Stimulated emission ; 2.2.4 Absorption ; 2.2.5 Optical gain ; 2.3 Characterisation of Optical Amplifiers ; 2.3.1 Signal gain ; 2.3.2 Frequency bandwidth ; 2.3.3 Saturation output power