Pr3+ and Dy3+-doped Ge-S-I glasses suitable for active fiber optic devices

Abstract

Pr3+ and Dy3+-doped Ge-S-I glasses were synthesized and their optical properties studied for active photonic device applications, such as optical fiber amplifiers at 1.31 μm and mid-IR fiber lasers. Absorption and emission spectra in the near-IR, recorded in doped Ge-S-I samples, are very similar to these observed in Ge-Ga-S glasses. Judd-Ofelt analysis of Dy3+-doped Ge-S-I glasses was used to evaluate their radiative properties. The measured high quantum efficiencies of 1.31 μm transitions (82% for Pr3+-doped and 17% for Dy3+-doped Ge-S-I bulk glass samples) place them among the glass candidates with best emission parameters. Thermal analysis data have been utilized to identify compositions with suitable stability against crystallization during drawing process. Fibers with losses of 3 dB/m at 1.31 μm have been successfully fabricated from Pr3+-doped Ge-S-I glasses.