An optical amplifier is disclosed that includes an input monitoring part configured to monitor an input wavelength division multiplexed light; an amplification part configured to amplify and output the input wavelength division multiplexed light; an output monitoring part configured to monitor the wavelength division multiplexed light output from the amplification part; a gain control part configured to perform gain control so that the ratio of output light intensity monitored by the output monitoring part to input light intensity monitored by the input monitoring part is constant; and a response speed switching part configured to switch the response speed of the gain control.