Low cost optical amplifier

摘要

An optical amplifier includes a substrate having disposed thereon an optical waveguide, the optical waveguide having an active region with Si nanocrystals dispersed in an erbium doped glass matrix. A light source is arranged to irradiate the optical waveguide with pump electromagnetic radiation. The amplifier also includes means for suitably shaping an input electromagnetic field to be amplified into the active region of the optical waveguide.