NKT Intros High-Gain EDWA

COPENHAGEN -- NKT Integration, a leading supplier of integrated photonic services and solutions, today announced a breakthrough in the development of EDWA integrated amplifiers. The EDWA is the integrated equivalent of the EDFA and promises to become a key building block for optical networks.Thomas Feuchter, Director for Amplifying Devices, explains about the break through: “When comparing performance between various EDWA technologies, amplifier efficiency is the key figure of merit, i.e. obtained C-band gain per applied mW of pump power, since the used amount of pump power strongly impacts cost and thermal heating of an amplifier module. Our latest results demonstrate 20 dB of gain across the entire C-band (1528-62 nm) with the use of 100 mW of 980 nm pump power, while maintaining a noise figure below 4.5 dB. In addition the EDWA technology provides full compatibility with passive waveguide circuits forming multi functionality on chip. We are gradually getting closer to the performance efficiency of EDFAs, but with a solid cost advantage due to the wafer scale integration and semiconductor-like fabrication. Combined with our progress in transferring the EDWA processes from R&D to production, we see a promising future for the commercial exploitation of EDWA technology.”“The EDWA technology will become a key building block for optical networks and especially the metro segment with its requirements for compact, cost-effective solutions. NKT Integration’s EDWA technology enables monolithic integration of multiple amplifiers together with passive functions such as splitters, couplers, AWG, VOA etc. on a silica-on-silicon chip. "Moving our technology for monolithically integrated EDWA into production has created a strong, united platform for combining active and passive functions in Planar Lightwave Circuits. We have reached an important performance mile stone, which together with our new offerings within deep etch and metallisation will make NKT Integration’s range of foundry services the most complete in the silica-on-silicon PLC market”, says Jacob Philipsen, Deputy CEO of NKT Integration.” NKT Integration A/S