And, Twente More...

University of Twente (Enschede, Netherlands) provides alternative to optical semiconductor amplifiers: Potential optical amplification of more than one hundredfold.

Abstract:

Researchers at the University of Twente's MESA+ research institute have developed a material capable of optical amplifications that are comparable to those achieved by the best, currently available semiconductor optical amplifiers. The researchers expect that this material will accelerate data communication and, ultimately, provide an alternative to short distance data communication (at the μm-cm scale). On 16 November, University of Twente researcher Dimitri Geskus will defend his PhD thesis based on this research, which he carried out at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science.

This falls right in line with the philosophy I read on the school's web site:

High tech, human touch. That is the University of Twente. Some 3,300 scientists and other professionals working together on cutting-edge research, innovations with real-world relevance and inspiring education for more than 9,000 students. The enterprising university encourages students to develop an entrepreneurial spirit, organizes numerous activities for secondary schools and is a partner of Kennispark Twente.

Nanotechnology Now: University of Twente provides alternative to optical semiconductor amplifiers

Arizona State University: Section 5: Optical Amplifiers, 24 pp

California State University (Sacramento): Optical Amplifiers, Ch 11, 4 pp

Donald R. Zimmerman and Leo H. Spiekman, Member, IEEE (tutorial paper):
Amplifiers for the Masses, 8 pp, JOURNAL OF LIGHTWAVE TECHNOLOGY, VOL. 22, NO. 1, JANUARY 2004