Stimulated emission and optical gain in LaF3:Nd nanoparticle-doped polymer-based waveguides

We report experiments which show evidence that stimulated emission at 863 nm takes place in hybrid monomode Si3N4 waveguides where LaF3:Nd nanoparticle-doped polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) was used as a top cladding material. Furthermore, optical gain at 1319 nm in LaF3:Nd nanoparticle dispersed PMMA (0.1 dB/cm) and photodefinable epoxy (Microchem SU-8) multimode waveguides has been observed at pump powers below 10 mW. This class of composite materials based on polymers with dispersed nanoparticles shows promising properties for planar optical amplifiers. Simulation showed that optical gain in the order of 10 dB can be achieved at 100 mW pump power in a 20 cm long monomode waveguide. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.