Semiconductor optical amplifiers

Description

Semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) are key components of external cavity lasers, including tunable and swept wavelength tunable lasers. In these lasers, the SOAs are employed as the gain elements – power boosters and pre-amplifiers.

We have two types of amplifiers in our product line – traveling wave amplifiers (TWAs, shown in the picture) and gain modules.

The amplifiers are hermetically sealed fiber pigtailed modules that can be assembled with SM or PANDA PM fibers. The modules are Telcordia GR-468-CORE qualified and RoHS and REACH compliant.

The amplifiers have a wide gain spectrum and a high output optical power. We offer a wide range of standard products in the 760 – 1100 nm spectral range with various optical gain bandwidths and output optical power levels.

Description (continued)

The gain module is shown in the picture.

If you need more detailed specifications for any part number (P/N) in the tables below, or if you need customized specifications, please contact us at enquiries@sldsources.com.

Standard TWAs

Below are the standard models of traveling wave amplifiers (TWAs).

785 – 870 nm

Table 1

Parameter	Units	TWA785G50	TWA795G16	TWA830G55	TWA840G25	TWA850G40	TWA870G58	TWA870G20
Center wavelength	nm	785	795	830	840	850	870	870
3dB optical gain bandwidth	nm	50	16	55	25	40	58	20
Output optical power	dBm	13	13	15	17	13	13	10
Small signal gain (max)	dB	25	30	25	30	22	25	25
Gain ripple (max)	%	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1
Polarization dependent gain	dB	7	7	7	7	7	7	10
Forward current	mA	300	200	200	300	200	220	200
Forward voltage	V	2.5	2.5	2.5	2.3	2.5	2.5	2.2

930 – 1060 nm

Table 2

Parameter	Units	TWA930G65	TWA970G40	TWA1010G95	TWA1060G35	TWA1060G75
Center wavelength	nm	930	970	1010	1060	1060
3dB optical gain bandwidth	nm	65	40	95	35	75
Output optical power	dBm	13	15	13	15	13
Small signal gain (max)	dB	25	27	24	30	25
Gain ripple (max)	%	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1
Polarization dependent gain	dB	7	7	7	10	7
Forward current	mA	200	220	300	300	220
Forward voltage	V	2.5	2.3	2.5	2.3	2.5

Typical performance examples

TWA850G40: small signal gain spectrum

TWA850G40: transmission characteristics at 845 nm

TWA840G2: small signal gain spectrum

TWA840G2: ASE excess and SOA forward current vs wavelength at 2 mW input power (0.03 nm FWHM linewidth) and 50 mW SOA output power

Standard gain modules

Below are the standard models of gain modules.

ASE mode

Table 3

Parameter	Units	SOA840G50			SOA970G50			SOA1020G110
Parameter	Units	min	typ	max	min	typ	max	min	typ	max
Typical output power ex-fiber (SM) at the maximum spectral width	mW	-	1	-	-	1	-	-	3	-
Typical peak wavelength	nm	-	840	-	-	970	-	-	1020	-
Spectral width (FWHM)	nm	45	50	-	45	50	-	100	110	-
Residual spectral modulation	%	-	3	6	-	3	6	-	5	10
Forward current	mA	-	65	90	-	200	260	-	200	240

Laser mode (normal cleave)

Table 4

Parameter	Units	SOA840G50			SOA970G50			SOA1020G110
Parameter	Units	min	typ	max	min	typ	max	min	typ	max
Threshold current	mA	-	40	50	-	100	150	-	40	60
External slope efficiency	mW/mA	-	0.25	0.40	-	0.05	0.10	-	0.2	0.3
Maximum output power ex-fiber (SM or PM)	mW	-	10	-	-	10	-	-	10	-
Forward voltage	V	-	2.0	-	-	2.0	-	-	2.2	-

Semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) – traveling wave amplifiers (TWAs) and gain modules

Description

Description (continued)

Standard TWAs

785 – 870 nm

Table 1

930 – 1060 nm

Table 2

Typical performance examples

TWA850G40: small signal gain spectrum

TWA850G40: transmission characteristics at 845 nm

TWA840G2: small signal gain spectrum

TWA840G2: ASE excess and SOA forward current vs wavelength at 2 mW input power (0.03 nm FWHM linewidth) and 50 mW SOA output power

Standard gain modules

ASE mode

Table 3

Laser mode (normal cleave)

Table 4

Typical performance examples

SOA840G50: spectra for ASE and laser modes

SOA840G50: SOA forward current vs wavelength at 1 mW SOA output power (4% reflectivity mirror is used)

More detailed specifications

Additional Resources

Product Information Sheets

Dimensional drawings

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