When in an optical signal amplifying triode 10, light of a second
wavelength .lamda..sub.2, selected from among light from a first optical
amplifier 26, into which a first input light L.sub.1 of a first
wavelength .lamda..sub.1 and a second input light L.sub.2 of second
wavelength .lamda..sub.2 have been input, and a third input light
(control light) L.sub.3 of a third wavelength .lamda..sub.3 are input
into a second optical amplifier 34, an output light L.sub.4 of the third
wavelength .lamda..sub.3, selected from among the light output from the
second optical amplifier 34, is light that is modulated in response to
the intensity variation of one or both of the first input light L.sub.1
of the first wavelength .lamda..sub.1 and the third input light L.sub.3
of the third wavelength .lamda..sub.3 and is an amplified signal, with
which the signal gain with respect to the third input light (control
light) L.sub.3 of the third wavelength .lamda..sub.3 is of a magnitude of
2 or more. An optical signal amplifying triode 10, which can directly
perform an optical signal amplification process using control input
light, can thus be provided.