Reflective Semiconductor Optical Amplifier

The new reflective semiconductor optical amplifier (RSOA) component from CIP (Ipswich, UK) provides high-speed transmission capability for wavelength division multiplexing passive optical networks (WDM-PON) by reflecting and modulating a “seed” light that is transmitted throughout the network. The component is capable of delivering more than 20 dB of optical gain and provides optical data transmission at gigabit Ethernet rates without the need for a local wavelength stabilized source or temperature control. The RSOA component is available in a TO-56 can package for easy integration into micro-optic assemblies. Data can be modulated at rates of up to 1.25 Gbits/sec from standard production devices. Polarization sensitive or polarization insensitive versions are offered.