PbS quantum dot fiber amplifier based on a tapered SMF fiber

A PbS quantum dot coated (QD-coated) tapered fiber amplifier with a broad bandwidth is theoretically demonstrated. The QD layer is coated on the surface of a tapered fiber and is excited by the evanescent wave of a pump. An optical gain of 10.5 dB, with a 160-nm broad bandwidth of at 1530-nm center wavelength, is achieved. The gain efficiency is over 4 dB/cm. This QD-tapered fiber amplifier has a concentration control of the QDs, a lower insertion loss, and shows good suppression of amplified spontaneous emission (ASE), while its structure is also quite simple. Therefore, the proposed fiber amplifier has great potential in fiber-optic communication systems. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.