Operation of Integrated Semiconductor Optical Amplifier/Monitoring Detector with Feedback Control Circuit

Abstract

Monolithic integration of a photodetector with a semiconductor optical amplifier simplifies the use of the amplifier in lightwave systems. Three important performance related characteristics: (1) output power leveling with a feedback loop, (2) gain optimization by input polarization control, and (3) anti-reflective (AR) coating of the amplifier facets, can all be controlled using the integrated detector as a monitor. We report in this paper an integrated optical amplifier/monitoring detector chip and its performance characteristics with a feedback control circuit.