Teem Buys Northstar's Amplifier Technology

Teem Photonics Inc., a developer of erbium-doped waveguide amplifiers and a provider of ultracompact components for high-bandwidth optical networks, has acquired the technology of Minneapolis-based Northstar Photonics Inc. in an undisclosed cash transaction. Teem, headquartered in Grenoble, France, expects to accelerate its amplifier development program and to increase its competitiveness in optical amplifiers. The deal with Northstar, a developer and producer of lasers and amplifiers, will include patents, applications and trademarks. By combining the companies' technologies, both based on an ion-exchange process, Teem hopes to improve amplifier performance and to lower the cost of production.