Active optic glass for broad-band amplification by erbium-bismuth activators

Abstract

Our work presents research of the optical Ge-Si glass composition doped with Er3+, Yb3+ ions and Bi optically active centers (BACs), which are useful for optically amplifiers for a double C- and U-band. The luminescence response in the 1500 – 1700 nm range was tested with various types of glass with different content of modifier and activators in the 1500 – 1700 nm range. The maxima of the luminescence intensity and the spectral full width were determined by modified reflex spectrum method measurement. The prepared Ge-Si glass doped with Er3+ ions and BACs exhibited strong and balanced emission in the 1520 – 1680 nm range after pumping at 1480 nm. The specific balanced optical differential gain of up to 0.2 dB/cm in the C-band and simultaneously 0.2 dB/cm in the U-band was measured. The measured results prove that the investigated germano-silicate glasses doped with Er3+ and Bi ions are promising for optical amplifiers working in the optical C- and U-bands.