Watt-class semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) at 1550 nm are an attractive alternative to replace erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs) in various applications including remote sensing, optical communications, illumination, and LIDAR, with the potential to be more efficient, compact, and cost-effective. We report a world record of a single mode fiber-coupled packaged semiconductor optical amplifier delivering >30 dBm (1.2 W) of continuous wave ex-fiber power at 1550 nm, enabled by recent advancements in diffraction-limited output from tapered diode laser amplifiers. This result is achieved with an input seed power of 30 mW (~15 dBm), corresponding to an overall gain of ~16 dB. Reliability data will be presented for our tapered laser chips, as will progress towards demonstration of high performance SOAs in an optical link. Watt-class SOAs are available and being shipped to customers now.
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