Simple method to characterize dynamic parameters of semiconductor waveguide amplifiers

Semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOA) are indispensable both for optical time domain multiplexed and wavelength division multiplexed optical network. To fully utilize the potential of SOAs, evolution of a short optical pulse inside SOAs is important. The pulse propagation dynamics of SOAs such as small signal gain, carrier recombination time, linewidth enhancement factor, saturation energy and subsequently differential gain coefficient and other parameters were simultaneously determined using a pump-probe technique. The technique is insensitive to pulse shaping and broadening in the SOA, which occurs to the optical pulse propagating through the SOA.