Quantum dot semiconductor optical amplifiers: optical pumping versus electrical pumping

A comprehensive comparison between the characteristics of conventional electrical pumping and the new optical pumping (OP) schemes in quantum dot semiconductor optical amplifiers (QD-SOAs) has been done and has proved that the optical pumping scheme can significantly improve the dynamical properties of QD-SOAs. Analytical solutions have been presented to justify the optical properties in both pumping methods in CW operation mode. Also, pulse-mode operation has been investigated through numerically solved rate equations. Besides obviating the deficiencies of electrical pumping, optically pumped SOAs (OP-SOAs) can be attractive alternatives for high-speed all-optical signal processing