A TUNABLE OPTICAL APPARATUS

摘要

A tunable optical apparatus comprises a silicon photonic integrated circuit region (310) and a semiconductor optical amplifier (320) optically coupled to each other. Tuning is achieved by having a first variable optical gate (312) in off-state so as to substantially avoid attenuation of power of a first optical signal propagating through a first optical path and by having a second variable optical gate (312) in on-state so as to attenuate power of a second optical signal propagating through a second optical path, the first optical path and the second optical path being optically coupled to the semiconductor optical amplifier (320).