Automated Characterization of Semiconductor Optical Amplifier Electro-Optic Response

This work presents an algorithm for the experimental characterization of the electro-optic response of semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs). An automation algorithm implemented in Python is proposed, using SCPI (Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments) commands for electrical signal generation and data acquisition. A method for minimizing spectral leakage in the discrete Fourier transform is investigated through the proper selection of the oscilloscope sampling rate and record length, i.e., the number of acquired points. For validation, measurements were performed using arbitrary frequency values that did not take into account the oscilloscope sampling rate or record length. The oscilloscope-based results are also compared with measurements obtained using an electrical signal analyzer. Using the proposed technique, a reduction in the maximum mean error from 0.404 to 0.114 was observed. Although this algorithm was developed for SOAs, it can also be applied to the characterization of other electro-optic devices, such as lasers and modulators.