Multi-Functional SOAs in Microwave Photonic Systems

The Semiconductor Optical Amplifier (SOA) is a very attractive device for optical communication systems because of their multi-functional capability. The operation of the SOA is controlled by both the electrical and optical input signal. The SOAs have demonstrated their multi-functional capability by combining optical amplification with modulation, gating, photo-detection, dispersion compensation, linearization, etc. The chapter describes the applications of SOA-modulator, SOA-detector and SOA-dispersion compensator in microwave photonic communication systems. The design and construction of complex optical circuits exhibiting several functionalities are difficult tasks. Optical semiconductor integrated circuits having different functional elements on a single substrate have been developed and intensively studied. In that case individual functional elements need not be connected to each other through passive waveguides. Compared to a case when functional elements are independently formed, it is simpler to apply multifunctional devices. In this case a single device replaces numerous special elements. Multi-functionality in optical communication systems decreases complexity, reduces fabrication, installation and maintenance cost, minimizes the size, enhances the reliability and allows systems to work simultaneously with suitable parameters. However, we have to compromise, because the specialised devices have better operation parameters than multi-functional devices. Therefore, the degradation of the characteristics has to be minimized; hence the study of potential multi-functional devices is a very important task.