Semiconductor amplifier design for wavelength conversion and switching

There is continued interest in rearrangeable multiwavelength optical networks because of their ability of providing flexible means for high-capacity information transport. Semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) may be used for realization of some of the photonic devices desired in such network layers. This presentation will be concerned with integrated SOAs based on InGaAsP bulk active material for applications to photonic space division switching and interferometric wavelength conversion in the wavelength range near 1.55 μm. In particular, these amplifiers will be illustrated in terms of 2×2 and 4×4 SOA gate switch matrices, and wavelength converters based on Michelson interferometers