Optical Amplification at 1525 nm in BaYF5: 20% Yb3+, 2% Er3+ Nanocrystals Doped SU-8 Polymer Waveguide

We demonstrated optical amplification in BaYF5 : 20% Yb3+, 2% Er3+ (BYF) nanocrystals doped polymer waveguide. BYF nanocrystals with an average size of similar to 13nm were synthesized by a high-boiling solvent process. Intense 1.53 mu m fluorescence was obtained in the nanocrystals under excitation at 980 nm. An optical polymer waveguide was fabricated by using BYF nanocrystals doped SU-8 polymer as the core material. A relative optical gain of similar to 10.4 dB at 1525 nm was achieved in a 1.1 cm long waveguide for an input signal power of similar to 0.09mWand a pump power of similar to 212mW.