Requirements for models of semiconductor optical amplifiers

Presently, semiconductor optical amplifiers tend to be laser designs that have been modified by the addition of anti-reflection coatings. That is, they are not specifically designed with a purpose in mined. This may be because it is difficult to justify producing novel devices for research purposes and also because it takes a number of weeks to fabricate a new design. It would, however, be easier to justify production if the designs could first be optimised and tested using CAD techniques. The purpose of this paper is to identify which features should be included in CAD models of semiconductor laser amplifiers. The results of this paper are summarised. This was compiled during the development of a new type of laser amplifier model- the transmission-line laser model (TLLM)