Abstract

Optical amplifiers and signal sources in fibre form should share the same characteristics of low loss, good power confinement and equivalent geometry as single-mode fibre used in telecommunications. Recent work(1,²) has shown that silica-based single-mode fibres may be doped with rare-earth ions, allowing moderate concentrations to be deposited in the GeO2 - SiO₂ matrix. These dopants absorb pump radiation at characteristic wavelengths in the visible to near-IR regions and produce strong fluorescent emmissions in wavelength regions of high fibre transparency(3). Optically-pumped optical amplifiers can be made, and with suitable feedback lasing can be achieved in useful wavelength regions.

© 1987 Optical Society of America