Multifunctional characteristics of 1.5-μm two-section amplifier-modulator-detector SOA

The multifunctional characterization of a two-section amplifier-modulator-detector semiconductor optical amplifier (AMD-SOA) is presented. Detectivity is analyzed in terms of bandwidth and responsivity while modulation properties are characterized by temporal response and extinction ratio. Receiver sensitivities of -26 dBm at 155 Mb/s and -19.5 dBm at 622 Mb/s and error-free signal modulation/transmission with simultaneous 10 dB amplification at 622 Mb/s with a 2/sup 23/-1 PRBS signal are reported. This device could find application as transparent add-drop node in photonic packet-switched optical ring networks.