Comparison of selected optical properties of oxyfluoride glass fibers doped with Er3+ and co-doped with Er3+ Yb3+

The method of manufacturing and spectroscopic evaluation of the Er³⁺ ions doped and Er³⁺–Yb³⁺co-doped SiO₂–Al₂O₃–Na₂CO₃–CaO–PbO–PbF₂ oxyfluoride glass fibers is presented in the paper. Both optically active elements erbium and ytterbium were introduced into the batch in the form of fluorides. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique was applied at each stage of fibers manufacturing in order to control an amorphous structure of the preforms and fibers. Optical studies of glass preforms and fibers (reflection/transmission, absorption, emission, and excited state absorption (ESA)) were directed to examine their suitability as fiber amplifiers at 1.55 μm band.