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The performance of Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers (SOA) is continuously improving, including output optical power, small signal gain, gain polarization sensitivity, and noise figure. These advancements make the application of semiconductor optical amplifiers increasingly crucial. In addition to its excellent amplification capability for the 1310nm band, SOA also performs remarkably in the single-stage amplification domain of the 1550nm band, even completely replacing EDFA in certain scenarios.
The rapid deployment of 5G networks has led to an explosive growth in bandwidth demand. In the access network and the edge of metro networks, 100G (425G CWDM4/LWDM4) high-speed transmission has become the norm. Given the transmission distance of 5-40km, the 100G (425G) LWDM4+SOA solution offers the most cost-effective choice. In the front-haul of 5G base stations, SOA enhances the optical power margin, achieving weak light transformation of 25G signals in the 1310nm and 1550nm bands. With the popularization of WDMPON solutions, SOA further promotes its widespread deployment, extending network coverage and transmission distance. SOA can be integrated into the ROSA or TOSA of optical modules or used as standalone devices or optical modules.
In the network monitoring market, the application of semiconductor optical amplifiers has a long history. With the surge in data services, the demand for data splitting and monitoring is increasing. In core network nodes, split-light monitoring has become common, and weak signals rely on SOA for amplification. Especially for 100G services in the 1310nm wavelength, SOA has become an indispensable amplification tool.
The vigorous development of big data has driven the need for high-bandwidth interconnection between data centers. SOA, through optical signal relay amplification, not only enhances the optical power margin of the link but also extends the transmission distance. Whether for high-speed services in the 1310nm or 1550nm bands, SOA can provide effective optical signal amplification. The market currently offers various SOA devices, such as CFP2, QSFP28, and SFP.
With its excellent frequency response and extinction ratio, SOA plays an important role in distributed fiber sensing. With technological advancements, SOA has replaced acousto-optic modulators (AOM) in most scenarios, providing high extinction ratio narrow pulse laser sources. For example, the 1550nm SOA from Tianjin Jianhe Bafang Optoelectronics has an extinction ratio of up to 65dB.
The application of semiconductor optical amplifiers are becoming an indispensable part of all-optical network communication and sensing networks. From innovations in operators' optical transmission networks to the tradition and transformation in the network monitoring market, as well as new options for data center interconnect and technological innovation in distributed fiber sensing, the application of semiconductor optical amplifiers have significant potential and value.
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