AbstractAn equivalent lumped element electric circuit model for traveling wave semiconductor laser amplifier has been developed using the rate equation for carriers. SPICE simulation of the circuits gives results in close agreement with the experimental data and values from sophisticated analyses. The modulation bandwidth and transient response were examined by including parasitic elements in the intrinsic model. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 49: 1558–1561, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.22483