Broadband near-infrared emission property in Er3+/Ce3+ co-doped silica-germanate glass for fiber amplifier.

Er(3+) doped and Er(3+)/Ce(3+) co-doped silica-germanate glasses were synthesized by high-temperature melt-quenching technique. A detailed study of the 1.53μm spectroscopic properties and thermal stability was presented in this work. The absorption spectra, 1.53μm emission spectra and fluorescence lifetimes were measured and investigated, along with the quantitative calculations and analyses of Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters, stimulated absorption and emission cross-sections and the product of FWHM×σem(p). It was found that the prepared samples have outstanding thermal stability (Tg=585°C), large FWHM (77nm and 108nm) and high stimulated emission cross-sections (9.55×10(-28)cm(3) and 8.72×10(-28)cm(3)) of Er(3+). The 1.53μm fluorescence intensity improved significantly with the introduction of Ce(3+). Furthermore, the wavelength dependent gain coefficient G(λ) of (4)I13/2→(4)I15/2 transition of Er(3+) was determined by means of the absorption and emission cross-sections. The results indicate that the developed glass co-doped with Er(3+)/Ce(3+) is a promising gain medium applied for broadband amplifier pumped with a 980nm laser diode.