Study of gain compression mechanisms in multiple-quantum-well In/sub 1-x/Ga/sub x/As semiconductor optical amplifiers

A combined experimental and theoretical analysis of the dynamical properties of multiple-quantum-well semiconductor optical amplifiers is presented. In particular, a polarization-independent optical amplifier has been realized using a tensile barrier InGaAs-InGaAs quantum-well active layer. The dynamics of gain recovery after optical pumping have been measured and the results have been interpreted in the light of a rate-equation analysis.