An improved optical transmitter comprises a vertically lasing
semiconductor optical amplifier (VLSOA) coupled to an external modulator
and/or a laser source. The VLSOA, external modulator and laser source are
discrete devices or alternatively integrated onto a common substrate. The
integrated optical transmitter may be fabricated using a number of
different methods, including based on selective area epitaxy, impurity
induced disordering, etch and fill and silicon optical bench.