Over 15 dB gain from a monolithically integrated optical switch with an amplifier

An optical switch is monolithically integrated with a semiconductor optical amplifier on a InP substrate. The switch is of the total internal reflection type. The device has achieved 15-dB chip gain at 1530-nm wavelength and fiber-to-fiber lossless transmission over a wavelength range of 80 nm. Crosstalk attenuation varies from 13 to 6 dB. This device demonstrates the feasibility of lossless integrated optics on InP. The technology applied allows monolithic integration of various active components with a minimum of extra technology steps.<
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