Paper 13355-55
Paper 13355-55
Evaluation of a semiconductor optical amplifier for free space optical communication applications
28 January 2025 • 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM PST | Moscone West, Room 2003 (Level 2)
Abstract
High-power Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers (SOAs) are a promising alternative to Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifiers (EDFAs), which are traditionally used for Free-Space Optical communication (FSO). Here, we characterize the performance of a watt-class 1550 nm AuraTM SOA for FSO applications. Firstly, we demonstrate an open eye diagram for 26.8 dBm SOA output power using the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) tranche 1 protocol. We then show that despite some waveform distortions, frame error rates of 3.9 x 10−4 are achieved for -28 dBm of received optical power with no forward error correction (FEC). Parameters of importance to optical communications such as signal gain, output power and beam quality are presented. We then identify optimal operating parameters for the SOA and discuss its suitability for laser communication applications.
Presenter
Charlotte K. Duda
Space Dynamics Lab. (United States)
Charlotte Duda is a Scientist based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, working for Space Dynamics Laboratory. Her work primarily focuses on the development of laser communication technology for high bandwidth space-based communication. Before joining Space Dynamics, Charlotte worked as a post-graduate researcher at Los Alamos National Laboratory, contributing to a wide range of cutting-edge projects. Originally from Wellington, New Zealand, Charlotte received her master’s in philosophy (MPhil) degree in Physics from the Australian National University.