This section provides an overview for fiber amplifiers as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 17 fiber amplifier manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked fiber amplifier companies as of November, 2024: 1.Thorlabs, Inc, 2.Aeon, 3.L-com.
Table of Contents
A Fiber Amplifier is an amplifier used to amplify optical signals.
When optical signals are propagated in an optical fiber, they are attenuated by transmission or distribution, and the amplifier compensates for this. Conventionally, optical signals are amplified electrically by a semiconductor IC, etc., then reconverted to light and re-transmitted.
Fiber Amplifiers, on the other hand, can amplify optical signals directly in optical fibers, and are widely used in the field of optical communications.
Fiber Amplifiers (Optical Fiber Amplifiers) are widely used in the field of optical communication using optical fibers, especially for long-distance optical communication applications where attenuation of light during propagation inside the fiber is an issue.
Amplification of optical signals using rare-earth element-doped fiber, which is the mainstream, has high output power. It can also amplify optical signals with high modulation frequencies and wavelength multiplexing, which cannot be handled by electrical amplification using semiconductors, and thus can handle optical signals with large amounts of information.
Taking advantage of these characteristics, fiber amplifiers are used in long-distance relay systems, optical multi-distribution systems, and optical frequency multiplexing systems in optical communications.
Fiber Amplifiers (optical fiber amplifiers) are mainly composed of rare-earth doped fibers and pump laser diodes (pump LDs) and amplify optical signals by utilizing the physical phenomenon of induced emission.
When rare earth ions are excited by the pump LD, the input signal light is triggered and amplified as an optical signal without conversion to an electrical signal by induced emission. Other components include a WDM coupler to combine the input signal light and pump light, and an optical isolator to prevent the amplified light from oscillating.
Rare earth ions can be used for amplification in the 1.3μm band for Pr ions, the 1.5μm and 0.85μm bands for Er ions, the 1.4μm and 2μm bands for Tm ions, and the 1.0μm band for Yb ions, corresponding to their energy levels, especially in the 1.3μm, 1.4μm and 0.85μm bands. Fluoride fibers are used for amplification instead of quartz fibers.
Since quartz optical fibers for long-haul optical communications have a minimum loss at a wavelength of 1.55μm, long-haul optical communication transmission networks have been constructed using semiconductor lasers with wavelengths in this range as light sources. Long-haul optical communication transmission networks extend over several hundred kilometers in some cases, so the loss used to be converted from light to electrical signals, electrically amplified, and then converted back to light and injected into the optical fiber.
With the advent of erbium-doped Fiber Amplifiers (EDFAs), optical signals in the 1.55-μm band can be amplified as they are when used in combination with incident light from 0.98-μm and 1.48-μm pump laser diodes, and this has become the dominant technology in current long-distance optical communication systems.
In addition to erbium-doped optical fiber amplifiers, fiber Raman amplifiers (Fiber Amplifiers) are another type of fiber amplifier that has recently been attracting attention.
This technology is expected to be applied to wavelength-division multiplexed optical fiber communications (WDM) because it is a physical phenomenon with freely settable wavelengths and relatively broadband gain. However, the need for high-power excitation light is an issue. Manufacturers are working hard to develop the technology, including the technology to develop the laser light.
Products called Fiber Sensors, which consist of a Fiber Unit photoelectric sensor, and a Fiber Amplifier for detection in confined spaces, are also widely used mainly in industrial applications. Fiber sensors generally use pulse-modulated light and are capable of non-destructive inspection applications in confined spaces and color discrimination, and have high-speed response.
They can be used in sensor applications suitable for checking workpieces and emissions in high-temperature environments.
In addition to the conventional 1.55μm (C-Band: 1.53 to 1.565μm) long-wavelength light source Fiber Amplifiers, the shorter wavelength O-band (1.26 to 1.36μm) and S-band (1.46 to 1.53μm) Fiber Amplifiers have recently attracted attention in order to meet the strong demand for optical communication applications.
Some manufacturers are producing their own Fiber Amplifiers optimized for these bands by developing special materials.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Banner Engineering Corporation, established in 1966 and headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a manufacturer and supplier of industrial automation products. They offer an extensive range of sensors, including proximity sensors, photoelectric sensors, and limit switches, for detecting object presence, position, and speed. Additionally, Banner provides a different types of switches, such as pushbuttons, toggle switches, and rotary switches, to control electricity flow and offer system feedback. Their wide array of controls includes PLCs, HMIs, and motion controllers, enabling automation of industrial processes.
L-com was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in North Andover, Massachusetts. The company serves many industries including electronics, medical, industrial automation, military, and telecommunications a manufacturer and servicer of wired and wireless communications products. The company’s custom product capabilities include customized cable assemblies, WiFi antennas, adapters, and surge protectors. Through its parent company, Infinite Electronics, the company offers a broad range of RF components and assemblies to over 100,000 global customers.
ifm efector (ifm) is a subsidiary of ifm electronic, founded in Germany in 1969. ifm has developed, manufactured and marketed sensors and controls technology to industries that include assembly and robotics, automotive, material handling, metal forming, mobile equipment, plastics, and food and beverage. Ifm produces sensors, condition monitoring equipment, image processing, safety technology, industrial communication, IO-link, systems for mobile machines, displays, software, connection technology, voltage supplies, as well as other accessories.
Microsemi Corporation was founded in 1959 and is headquartered in Aliso Viejo, California. Microsemi is a subsidiary of Microchip Technology Incorporated. Microsemi is a provider of semiconductor and system solutions for aerospace, communications, data center, and industrial markets. A few of Microsemi’s product lines include high-performance and radiation-hardened analog mixed-signal integrated circuits, FPGAs, power management products, timing and synchronization devices, and RF solutions. Microsemi’s technological strengths are in connectivity, energy efficiency, miniaturization, power management, and security.
Thorlabs, Inc, established in Newton, NJ in 1989, is a manufacturer of photonics equipment for research, manufacturing, and biomedical applications. Their product portfolio includes optical components, for use in imaging, sensing, and spectroscopy applications, spectrometers and analyzers used for research and industrial applications, fiber optic components and photomultiplier tubes, and imaging devices that capture and measure light signals for diverse applications in scientific research. The company has sales offices in the United States, United Kingdom, Sweden, China, and Brazil.
RPMC Lasers, Inc. is an OEM laser supplier founded in 1996 and based in Missouri, USA. The company offers various laser technology products for the photonics industry. These products include fiber or solid-state optical laser amplifiers, wide wavelength laser diodes, and pulsed lasers. It also offers related accessories such as thin disc mount modules and heatsinks, as well as product customization for customers with unique project specifications. The company's products support client manufacturers in the medical, defense and research sectors.
Nuphoton Technologies, established in 1996, and based in California, USA, is a manufacturer and supplier of fiber amplifiers and lasers. The product portfolio includes a diverse range of products of fiber amplifiers, fiber lasers, and light sources. The products are used in various industries which include industrial, defense, aerospace, biomedical, telecommunications, and research areas. The products are ISO certified with other certifications and designed for 24/7 operations in harsh environments with optimum quality.
Aeon Corporation, located in Princeton Junction, New Jersey, is a photonic semiconductor manufacturer. Their product line includes evaluation boards and a range of semiconductor optical amplifiers. These amplifiers have diverse applications and can be used as light sources, or switches. Some of their amplifier types include Swept Source Amplifiers, Booster Amplifiers, O-Amps, and C-Amps. Aeon Corporation also offers custom design and development services for integrated photonic devices. The company maintains and adheres to the rigorous standards set of ISO 9001 certification.
Cybel, LLC, is a manufacturer of fiber lasers, fiber amplifiers and ASE sources, headquartered in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, United States, and established in 2001. The company designs, fabricates, and commercializes a broad range of its products in the 1µm, 1.5µm, and 2µm optical bands for numerous applications. Cybel provides optical solutions in Benchtop units and compact OEM platforms, namely: the SKYLINE and the MAKO. Its products and services are applied in various industries, including aerospace, automotive, biomedical, electronics, and manufacturing. The company also partners major global photonics companies, which include iXBlue Photonics, QDlaser, Eblana Photonics, and Alnair labs.
Kapteyn-Murnane Laboratories is a manufacturer and supplier of ultrafast laser systems founded in 1994 and headquartered in Boulder, Colorado. The company specializes in creating tabletop-scale laser sources that cover a wide range of the electromagnetic spectrum, including VUV, EUV, and SXR. These lasers are designed and produced to work in the 1 to 150 nm wavelength range. It also provides a range of products including integrated systems, ultrafast Ti:S lasers or amplifiers, and accessories like Arterium Beamline Modules and Eclipse Pulse Picker. KMLabs' products and services are useful in various fields, including semiconductor manufacturing, spectroscopy, imaging, and materials metrology.
Seminex Corporation, founded in 2003 in Massachusetts, designs and manufactures infrared laser diodes and optical amplifiers used for automotive, military, medical, and industrial settings. The company produces the latest high-power lasers such as 1550 nm Triple Junction laser diodes for ToF LiDAR and Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers (SOAs) for FMCW LiDAR in the chip, array, and surmount designs, with all diode laser products customizable in various powers and wavelengths to meet customer specifications.
Optex Fee Co., Ltd., was established in 2002 and based in Kyoto, Japan, is a manufacturer and supplier of factory automation sensors and solutions. The company offers an extensive and diversified product portfolio including photoelectric sensors, fiber-optic sensors, displacement sensors, non-contact thermometers, vision sensors, and other industrial automation products. These sensors and solutions play a pivotal role in enhancing manufacturing processes across a spectrum of industries, including automotive, electronics, and packaging.
DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED was established in 1976 in Aichi, Japan provides industrial solutions through its manufacturing technology by developing and producing automatic identification equipment, industrial robots, controllers, and system solutions. The company is known for creating QR codes and cloud services, which are registered trademarks of DENSO WAVE Inc. These codes and services are used for anti-forgery measures and in business cards or catalogs. Their AUTO-ID products include terminals, scanners, RFIDs, and software that enables various operations. These products are supported by customized system solutions such as QR code solutions and IoT solutions (Internet of Things).
Keopsys Group is a manufacturer of fiber lasers and amplifiers founded in 1997 and headquartered in Lannion, France. The company offers a wide range of custom-designed products, including CW amplifiers, Pulsed amplifiers, CW lasers, and Pulsed lasers in the 1µm, 1.5µm, and 2µm optical bands. These amplifiers and lasers are available in Benchtop configurations for easy integration and undergo testing in accordance with the ISO 9001:2008 standard. The company offers a maintenance-free operation for its all-in-fiber systems. Keopsys' products serves diverse industries, including defense, LIDAR, space, and scientific research.
Omron Corporation, started in 1933 and headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, is a manufacturer of automation components, equipment, and systems, and it developed the first contactless proximity switch in 1960. It has four domains, including industrial automation, electronic components, healthcare, and social systems, and it provides products and services in around 120 countries and regions. Some of its products include microsensing devices, access control systems, industrial robots, surveillance cameras, and blood pressure monitors. In 1971, it developed the first online cash machine, and in 1972, it established Japan’s first welfare factory.
SIMTRUM Pte., Ltd. is a Singapore-based manufacturing company established in 2019 that provides a new E-commerce platform in the photonics industry integrated with their revolutionary cloud-based simulation software (SaaS) to provide customers with an upgraded purchase experience. The company’s platform integrates supply chains in the photonics industry to provide great deal products to its customers. Its main teams are all from the field of photonics, concentrating on the fields of spectroscopy and microscopy. Passionate about photonics and life, it builds photonics platform so that everyone can more easily access photonics-related technologies and products with better cost-effectiveness.
MW Technologies, a company founded in 2012 and based in Maia, Portugal, is a manufacturer and supplier specializing in fiber-optic technologies. The company's product portfolio includes pulsed fiber lasers, optical fiber amplifiers, and compact laser diode drivers. These products are utilized in various applications, including but not limited to, telecommunications, research and development, and sensing and instrumentation. The company offers services including technical support, product customization, and repair while possessing both the ISO 9001 and NP4457 certificates.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | Thorlabs, Inc |
15.3%
|
2 | Aeon |
8.9%
|
3 | L-com |
7.4%
|
4 | RPMC Lasers, Inc. |
6.8%
|
5 | Microsemi Corporation |
6.3%
|
6 | Keopsys Group |
5.8%
|
7 | Banner Engineering Corporation |
5.8%
|
8 | ifm efector, inc. |
5.8%
|
9 | Nuphoton Technologies |
5.3%
|
10 | Cybel, LLC. |
4.7%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the fiber amplifier page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
United States of America | 11 | 73.3% |
Japan | 2 | 13.3% |
France | 1 | 6.7% |
Singapore | 1 | 6.7% |
11 products are listed.
Optex Fee
80+ people viewing
Ultra -high -speed fiber amplifier with ease of use Organic EL display with excellent visibility, large display LED. User -friendly new features s...
Autonics Corporation
40+ people viewing
■ Overview The BFX series, which uses the dual LCD display that displays the amount of light receiving and the set value at the same time, has achi...
TOPTICA Photonics AG
30+ people viewing
High Power, Single Mode, Single Frequency, Ultra-Low Noise CW