New Er3+-doped phosphate glass for ion-exchanged waveguide amplifiers

A new Er3+ doped phosphate glass exhibiting an excellent durability in both boiling water and NaNO3 molten salt was developed. Ion-exchange process of this glass was investigated by treating glass samples in a variety of salt bathes with various exposure times. Planar waveguide with one mode at 1.54 ?m and three modes at 632.8nm was demonstrated. Spectral properties of Er3+ in this glass were characterized by measuring absorption and emission spectra, and fluorescence lifetimes. Emission cross section of Er3+ in this glass was calculated to be 0.76×10-20 cm2 using McCumber theory. Our preliminary experimental results indicate this new Er3+ doped glass is an excellent material for ion-exchanged waveguide lasers and amplifiers.