Cavity-less vertical semiconductor optical amplifier

Abstract

A cavity-less vertical semiconductor optical amplifier is provided which includes an active region of an intrinsic bulk semiconductor material sandwiched between p- and n-layers of semiconductor materials in which a vertical gain channel of a predetermined confined cross-sectional configuration is formed to constitute an amplification region of the optical amplifier. The amplification region is sandwiched between layers of p- and n-doped layers of linearly graded semiconductor material supplying holes and electrons to the active region upon switching “ON” of the optical amplifier. Several factors contribute to substantial amplification of an optical signal at a relatively low injection current which include a relatively long active region allowing sufficient single pass gain as well as a strictly confined cross-sectional configuration of the vertical gain channel which reduces the active volume of the amplification region resulting in substantially high gain at a relatively low current. Flattening of the conduction band and valence band profiles allows easy access of the holes and electrons into the active region. The cavity-less vertical semiconductor optical amplifier of the present invention is intended for multidimensional architectural structures for high speed communication.