SEMICONDUCTOR OPTICAL AMPLIFIERS (SOA)

WHAT IS AN SOA?

SOA, short for Semiconductor Optical Amplifier, is a device where the primary purpose is to amplify optical signals through stimulated emission which causes gain to be produced. In the specific case of semiconductor optical amplifiers, the gain is produced through current injection. Its advantage is amplifying the optical intensity of the signal without resorting to converting to electrical signals and back again to optical. Some of the major applications of SOA are:

LIDAR (Light Detection & Ranging): Useful in autonomous vehicles. The FMCW (Frequency Modulation Continuous Wave) LiDAR with high powered SOA, capable of ranging up to 250m+ in all-weather and direct sunlight conditions, can detect the faintest object at 1310 or 1550nm.

Communication: 10 to 40kM mobile phone base station and data center at the 1310nm wavelength.

Tunable Laser: Necessary for amplifying output power for tunable solid-state lasers used in laser radar and remote sensing, as well as medical applications.

Spectroscopy: High resolution infrared spectroscopy using high power Gain Chip in an external cavity laser system with narrow linewidth.

The new SemiNex Semiconductor Optical Amplifier (SOA) provides a cost-effective and high-performance solution to amplifying single mode lasers for high power applications. SemiNex’s unique epitaxial and waveguide design allows higher gain and saturation output power than our competition.

SOA PRODUCT FAMILY

SemiNex SOAs can be integrated and applied into various optical components and configurations for high power applications. The wavelength choices of SemiNex SOA include 1310 and 1550nm. We offer a tilted straight waveguide or a curved waveguide format, and low AR/AR coating for SOA or low AR/HR coating for Gain Chip options.

SemiNex provides SOAs in several packaging and submount configurations such as fiber coupled and non-fiber options (e.g. Chip on Carrier (CoC), B-mount, C-mount, etc.). Samples and production units are available for delivery.

Here you can find the SOA Chip Product Family Information Sheet and the SOA Array Product Family Information Sheet. Individual Product Information Sheets can be found in the Product Matrix below.

SOA Chips/Arrays – 2.5mm Cavity Length

Wavelength (nm)**	Chip			Array		Array
	Single Waveguide			Four Waveguides (127um Pitch)		Four Waveguides (500um Pitch)

	Curved	Gain RSOA	Tilted	Curved	Gain RSOA	Tilted
1270	*	*	*	*	*	*
1310	CHP-288	CHP-289	CHP-290	BAR-178	BAR-181	BAR-184
1350	*	*	*	*	*	*
1450	*	*	*	*	*	*
1470	*	*	*	*	*	*
1532	*	*	*	*	*	*
1550	CHP-285	CHP-286	CHP-287	BAR-177	BAR-179	BAR-183
1625	*	*	*	*	*	*
1650	*	*	*	*	*	*
1940	*	*	*	*	*	*

*Call to request specific requirements.

**Wavelength Classes contain products in the general wavelength area. Click into product details for exact wavelengths offered.

SOA COC – 2.5mm Cavity Length

Wavelength (nm)**	COC			COC
	Single Waveguide			Four Waveguides (127um Pitch)

	Curved	Tilted	Gain RSOA	Curved	Gain RSOA
1270	*	*	*	*	*
1310	COC-288	COC-290	COC-289	COC-178	COC-181
1350	*	*	*	*	*
1450	*	*	*	*	*
1470	*	*	*	*	*
1532	*	*	*	*	*
1550	COC-285	COC-287	COC-286	COC-177	COC-179
1625	*	*	*	*	*
1650	*	*	*	*	*
1940	*	*	*	*	*

*Call to request specific requirements.

**Wavelength Classes contain products in the general wavelength area. Click into product details for exact wavelengths offered.