Buying Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers
Semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) amplify telecom signals at wavelengths like 1.3 μm or 1.55 μm, and are also used in signal processing applications, such as channel translation in Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) systems. Tapered amplifiers, a type of SOA, can deliver output powers of several watts, making them versatile tools in optical communications and signal enhancement.
Making Good Purchase Decisions
RP Photonics helps to not only to find all relevant suppliers, but also to make good purchase decisions:
Learning Resources

With its comprehensive resources, RP Photonics helps you to well prepare purchase decisions:
- Encyclopedia article: semiconductor optical amplifiers
- Related articles: optical amplifiers, semiconductor lasers, laser diodes
Aspects to Consider Before Buying
Some aspects to consider before buying semiconductor optical amplifiers: gain, wavelength range, output power, saturation power, noise figure, input and output coupling, pumping requirements, polarization sensitivity, thermal performance, integration options, environmental stability.
For responsible purchase decisions, we recommend applying good practices.
Find Suppliers for Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers
21 suppliers for semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOA) are listed in the RP Photonics Buyer's Guide, out of which 5 present their product descriptions. Both manufacturers and distributors can be registered.
Suppliers with Advertising Package presenting their product descriptions | |
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![]() all wavelengths. TOPTICA Photonics AGLochhamer Schlag 19 82166 Gräfelfing Germany | ![]() TOPTICA offers tapered semiconductor optical amplifier systems and amplified laser systems with the widest spectral coverage and highest power: between 660 nm and 1495 nm with single mode emission and powers up to 4 W. Tunable, single frequency, narrow linewidth and convenient to control and operate. |
![]() THINKING BEYOND TOPTICA eagleyardeagleyard Photonics GmbH Rudower Chaussee 29 12489 Berlin Germany | ![]() Tapered laser amplifiers combine the beam quality of a ridge waveguide laser with the high power known from broad area lasers. If you need high power and small spot size, this is the laser for you. eagleyard manufactures tapered lasers between 730 nm and 1083 nm with high brightness and the smallest divergence. Output powers from 500 mW to 2000 mW are available. |
![]() Advanced Tunable Lasers Open the Future of Measurement Technology Spectra Quest Lab, Inc.408 Chiba-Univ. Inohana Inovation Plaza 1–8–15 Inohana Chuou-ku Chiba-shi Chiba, 260–0856 Japan | ![]() Spectra Quest Lab offers 1-W class wide band semiconductor optical amplifiers in the 900-nm and 1-μm band. The SOAs are capable of efficient coupling to PM fiber. Unlike tapered amplifiers, its SOA has extremely low wavelength and LD current dependence of coupling efficiency to PM fiber, making it suitable for applications involving wavelength tuning of input light and LD modulation. In addition, its pulse current driver can easily generate nanosecond pulses. |
![]() Hedwig-Jahnow-Str. 12 35037 Marburg Germany | ![]() Sacher Lasertechnik has tapered amplifier diodes emitting between 730 nm and 1180 nm, with up to 3 W of output power and high gain. Free-space and fiber-pigtailed versions are available. |
![]() Rue François Mitterrand Institut d'Optique d'Aquitaine 33400 Talence France | ![]() SHIPS TODAY : AeroDIODE offers various SOA (Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers) modules in a butterfly package covering the 750–1650 nm wavelength range. The SOAs have all high gain (in the 25–35 dB range) and high output power (in the 20–23 dB range). A special SOA-based high-speed intensity modulator and optical switch is also offered as a turn-key solution. Key features are high speed (down to 1 ns rise/fall time), high dynamic range (>48 dB), high extinction ratio (>50 dB) and an easy to use graphical user interface with multiple software libraries (LabVIEW, Python etc.). AeroDIODE also offers the SOA driver alone in either CW or pulsed configuration. See also our white paper/tutorial on fiber-coupled modulators. |
Other Suppliers | |
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Aeon Corporation United States | |
Allwave Lasers Devices Inc. China | |
Beijing Rofea Optoelectronics Co., Ltd. China | |
ELUXI Ltd. United Kingdom | |
FS.COM Inc United States | |
HC Optical Science and Tech China | |
Innolume GmbH Germany | |
InPhenix, Inc. United States | |
LD-PD Inc. Singapore | |
Newport Corporation United States | |
Optilab, LLC United States | |
Oriental-Laser (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd. China | |
QPhotonics, LLC United States | |
SemiNex High Power Laser Diodes United States | |
Hong Kong Xiang Shun Technology Co., Ltd China | |
Superlum Diodes Ltd. Ireland |