A simulator for bulk semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOA), based on a modified transfer matrix method (TMM) and rate equations, is presented. The software parameters were calibrated using the amplified spontaneous emission noise total output power, with good agreement achieved between experimental and simulated data, both for the DC and the dynamic optical gain. Simulation results for the induced optical chirp filtering foresee switching times around 5.5 ps, in contrast with the slower responses of the experimental results for the step-only (1.8 ns) and pre-pulsed (200 ps) current injection. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.23641699131139