What Is an Optical Amplifier?
An optical amplifier, or optical amp, boosts optical signals using a process driven by another light source, known as pump light. This light stimulates optical amplification material, exciting its electrons. These excited electrons then amplify the incoming optical signal through their interaction.
Optical amplifiers are crucial across a broad spectrum of applications. They extend the reach of laser communications, mitigate transmission losses in optical fiber networks, enhance the functionality of medical devices like optical fiber endoscopes and laser therapy equipment, and support advanced scientific tools including optical microscopes and spectrophotometers. Key advantages of optical amplifiers include their resistance to electrical interference, and the ability to support long-distance and high-speed data transmission.