ZBLAN amplifier

With an emission at 1.3 /tm, Nd3+ is a potential candidate for optical amplification in the second telecommunication window. However, optical gain remains limited because of amplified spontaneous emission at 1.05 fim and also because of strong ESA at 1.3 /on. This ESA process, which takes place from 4F3/2 to (4G7/2, 2K13/2) and to 4G9/2 as shown in Fig. 5, is so probable that no gain is achieved around 1.3 /tm in silica fibers. In ZBLAN fluoride fibers, gain is achieved at 1.34... 

Characteristics of fluoride glass optical amplifiers. All fibers are ZBLAN-based glass except when otherwise indicated. (LD) laser diode ( ) gain obtained with two amplification units. 

Fig. 42. Schematic of a 1.5 pm amplifier in a ZBLAN fiber (Ronarc h et al. 1991b).

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