Optical amplifier gain control method for optical amplifier and gain control circuit for optical amplifier

摘要

The invention relates to an optical amplifier capable of achieving high-speed gain control in a wide dynamic range with a simpler constitution. A gain control circuit of the optical amplifier includes a first photodetector for outputting a voltage having a linear relation with power of part of signal light to be inputted to the optical amplifier medium, a second photodetector for outputting a voltage having a linear relation with power of part of the signal light amplified in the optical amplifier medium, a comparator for outputting a difference between the voltages respectively outputted from the first and second photodetectors, and a drive circuit for supplying a desired drive current to a pumping light source in response to the voltage outputted from the comparator. Each of the first and second photodetectors includes a photoelectric conversion element for performing conversion into an electric current in response to inputted optical power, and an operational amplifier for converting the electric current outputted from the photoelectric conversion element into a voltage. Particularly, at least one of the first and second photodetectors includes an adjusting mechanism for adjusting an offset of the outputted voltage.