"b is a perspective view of the components of FIG. 1a; [0030]FIG. 2a is a perspective view of a channel waveguide amplification chip employed in the amplifier of FIGS. 1a-b; [0031]FIG. 2b is a front view of the channel waveguide chip of FIG. 2a; [0032]FIG. 3 is a packaged embodiment of the optical amplifier in accordance with the present invention; [0033]FIG. 4a is a perspective view of a flanged o" . . . .