35 dB optical gain at 2.716 μm in erbium doped ZBLAN fibre pumped at 0.642 μm

Abstract

An optical gain of 35 dB at 2.716 μm signal wavelength has been measured in an erbium doped ZBLAN fibre. A pump-wavelength scanning determined the pump wavelength for maximum gain. This pump wavelength was found to be 0.642 μm. The maximum absorption wavelength for this Er3+ doped fibre is 0.649 μm. It was deduced that the excited state absorption process improves the gain performance of such fibres at the signal wavelength considered.