Modern communication networks rely on optical signals to transfer vast amounts of data. But just like a weak radio signal, these optical signals need to be amplified to travel long distances without losing information.

The most common amplifiers, erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs), have served this purpose for decades, enabling longer transmission distances without the need for frequent signal regeneration. However, they operate within a limited spectral bandwidth, restricting the expansion of optical networks.

To meet the growing demand for high-speed data transmission, researchers have been seeking ways to develop more powerful, flexible, and compact amplifiers. Even though AI accelerators, data centers, and high-performance computing systems handle ever-increasing amounts of data, the limitations of existing optical amplifiers are becoming more evident.