Polarization insensitive SOAs in AlInGaAs at 1550 nm

Numerical calculations have been performed for polarization insensitive amplifiers in AlInGaAs material system for the 1550 nm wavelength window. SOAs fabricated and tested at 1527 nm show a maximum gain difference of 0.9 dB at 60 mA of drive current between the TE and the TM modes. A polarization insensitive spectral bandwidth of 40 nm was observed where the gain difference between the two polarizations was found to be less than 1 dB.