Abstract

The amplitude and phase response of optical input-optical output (OIOO) devices such as optical amplifiers is important if the amplifiers are to be used as broadband amplifiers. Although the gain-bandwidth of an optical amplifier may be very wide (>100 GHz), pattern dependent gain has been reported for a semiconductor laser amplifier operating with a 2-Gbit/s input signal.¹ On the other hand, the AM and FM response of an erbium doped fiber amplifier has been reported to be flat up to frequencies of 12 GHz.² We present here a simple technique that can be used to measure the microwave phase and amplitude response of OIOO devices using the offset frequency phase locking of two Nd:YAG 1319-nm nonplanar ring lasers.³

© 1990 Optical Society of America