The Principal Types of Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers Applications

There has been significant growth in optical fiber communication networks' deployment and capability in the past twenty-five years. The development of modern optoelectronic technologies that can be used to take advantage of the enormous optical fiber bandwidth has made this growth possible.

In this piece, we have reviewed the three primary areas where SOAs are used. Let us understand it in brief.

Types of Semiconductor Optical Amplifier Applications

The key applications of SOAs in optical communication systems can be categorized into three areas: 

1. As a Booster Amplifier

2. As a Pre Amplifier

3. As an In-line Amplifier

Now let us understand each of these amplifiers and its role in brief.

1. Booster Amplifiers

A post-amplifier or booster amplifier is used to increase the laser power of the transmitter. 

In an optical transmitter, boosting laser power allows creating medium-haul connections with an increased transmission wavelength. 

These links are actually made up of optical fiber between the transmitter and the receiver. Since this involves no active components in the transmission link, it improves reliability and performance.

2. Preamplifier 

A preamplifier is used to enhance the sensitivity of the receiver. The rise in power level will improve the sensitivity of the receiver. This enables the creation of longer, unrepeated links. The preamplifier circuit receiver consists of an optical preamplifier, a photodiode accompanied by post-detection circuitry and a decision circuit, and a narrowband optical filter.

3. In-line Amplifier

An in-line amplifier is used to overcome the need for optical regeneration to compensate for medium- and long-haul transmission losses.

The key benefits of in-line SOAs are data rate clarity and modulation format, bidirectionality, WDM capability, easy operation mode, low power consumption, and SOA injection.

The introduction of optical amplifiers into optical communication connections will increase the device's efficiency and reduce costs.

These are the three principal areas where SOAs are used. The next section describes the nonlinearities of the Semiconductor optical amplifier– a basis of many SOA applications.

The Future of Semiconductor Optical Amplifier

As it is such a highly flexible component that can be used for different amplification and routing functions in telecommunications, the Semiconductor Optical Amplifier (SOA) is still the subject of much current research.

Commercialized SOAs are now widely available for advanced optical systems for central, metro, and possibly all types of access applications and are rapidly becoming a cost-effective optical amplification solution.

semiconductor optical amplifiers

The capabilities of SOA include nearly unlimited bandwidth for carrying communication services of almost any kind and complete an openness that enables capacity upgrades to the terminal and versatile channel routing. The optical amplifier has made many of the developments possible in optical networks.

Therefore, SOAs will continue to create new interest in all-optical communication systems for a wide range of applications in the future and may well become the device of choice for use.

Inphenix is An US-based company manufacturing high-quality amplifiers and other sources of light. They also work with lasers, driver boards, superluminescent diodes, semiconductor optical amplifiers, and O-band optical amplifiers in addition to light sources. Visit the site to learn more about their expertise, products, and services.

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