Fabrication and photoluminescence characteristics of Er3+-doped optical fiber sensitized by Si particles

We report for the first time the development of Er³⁺/Si-doped optical fiber amplifier operating at 1550 nm upon 512 nm pumping. Er³⁺-doped silica glass optical fibers incorporated with silicon particles as the sensitizer were fabricated by the modified chemical vapor deposition and the solution doping technique. The effect of silicon incorporation into the fiber core on the optical absorption and photoluminescence properties was investigated. Upon pumping with the CW Ar-ion laser at 512 nm, a photoluminescence band appeared near 770 nm and 1560 nm. The peak intensity of the photoluminescence at 1560 nm in the Er³⁺/Si-doped fiber was found to enhance by about 70% compared to the Er³⁺-doped fiber.