Introduction and Choice of Semiconductor Optical Amplifier
With its introduction in the 1990s, the Optical attenuator conquered the regenerator technology and it then opened doors to the WDM technology. An optical Attenuator is mainly used to directly amplify an optical signal and there is even no need to first convert it to an electrical signal. There are different types of optical amplifiers, namely erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs), Raman amplifiers, and semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOA).
Basics of Semiconductor Optical Amplifier (SOA)
As a gaining medium, there is the use of semiconductors by SOA optical amplifiers, which is designed to be used in general applications so that there is an increase in optical launch power so that there is compensation for the loss of other optical devices. In telecommunication systems, semiconductor optical amplifiers are often adopted in the form of fiber-pigtailed components
Working principle of SOA amplifier
The basic working principle of an SOA is very much similar to a semiconductor laser but without feedback. Through stimulated emission SOAs amplify incident light. Through the active region when there is traveling of light, Optical amplifier EDFA causes these electrons to lose energy in the form of photons and get back to the ground state. Those stimulated photons have the same wavelength when compared to an optical signal, thus amplifying the optical signal.
How to Select SOA Optical Amplifier?
You need to check every detailed parameter in the product data-sheet while selecting the SOA amplifier. For better understanding, you need to read the below-given points
Gain, gain bandwidth, saturation output power, and noise are the key parameters that are used to characterize an SOA amplifier.
Gain is the major factor through which there is an amplification of the input signal and is measured as the ratio of output power to input power (in dB). In higher output optical signal there is a higher gain result.
Gain bandwidth defines the range of bandwidth where there is the functioning of amplification. To amplify a wide range of signal wavelengths a wide gain bandwidth is desirable.
After amplification and saturation output power is the maximum attainable output power and beyond it, no amplification is reached. To remain in the linear working region and to have a higher dynamic range the polarization maintaining fiber SOA must have a high-power saturation level.
Within the signal, bandwidth noise defines the undesired signal which comes from physical processing in the amplifier. To measure the impact of noise which is typically around 5dB there is the use of a parameter called noise figure.
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