E-band Nd³⁺ amplifier based on wavelength selection in an all-solid micro-structured fiber

Journal Article · Mon Mar 13 00:00:00 EDT 2017 · Optics Express

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.25.006524· OSTI ID:1351148

Dawson, Jay W. ^[1]; Kiani, Leily S. ^[1]; Pax, Paul H. ^[1]; Allen, Graham S. ^[1]; Drachenberg, Derrek R. ^[1]; Khitrov, Victor V. ^[1]; Chen, Diana ^[1]; Schenkel, Nick ^[1]; Cook, Matthew J. ^[1]; Crist, Robert P. ^[1]; Messerly, Michael J. ^[1]

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1. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Here, a Nd³⁺ fiber amplifier with gain from 1376 nm to 1466 nm is demonstrated. This is enabled by a wavelength selective waveguide that suppresses amplified spontaneous emission between 850 nm and 1150 nm. It is shown that while excited state absorption (ESA) precludes net gain below 1375 nm with the exception of a small band from 1333 nm to 1350 nm, ESA diminishes steadily beyond 1375 nm allowing for the construction of an efficient fiber amplifier with a gain peak at 1400 nm and the potential for gain from 1375 nm to 1500 nm. A peak small signal gain of 13.3 dB is measured at 1402 nm with a noise figure of 7.6 dB. Detailed measurements of the Nd³⁺ emission and excited state absorption cross sections suggest the potential for better performance in improved fibers. Specifically, reduction of the fiber mode field diameter from 10.5 µm to 5.25 µm and reduction of the fiber background loss to <10 dB/km at 1400 nm should enable construction of an E-band fiber amplifier with a noise figure < 5 dB and a small signal gain > 20 dB over 30 nm of bandwidth. Such an amplifier would have a form factor and optical properties similar to current erbium fiber amplifiers, enabling modern fiber optic communication systems to operate in the E-band with amplifier technology similar to that employed in the C and L bands.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• Grant/Contract Number: AC52-07NA27344
• OSTI ID: 1351148
• Report Number(s): LLNL-JRNL-716937; OPEXFF
• Journal Information: Optics Express, Vol. 25, Issue 6; ISSN 1094-4087
• Publisher: Optical Society of America (OSA)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
lasers
fibers
lasers
neodymium
laser amplifiers
fiber optics amplifiers and oscillators