Semiconductor optical amplifiers in analog optical links

Abstract

The semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) is a high performance and very versatile component in a wide range of optical communications systems. It offers a good solution for the implementation of very high-speed analogue links (> 10 GHz), microwave distribution networks, etc. We assess the performance of this device for analog optical systems and illustrate it by a subcarrier multiplexed link. We study linearity, modulation bandwidth, noise and dispersion in a very high speed optical link, using both experimental and theoretical methods.