Absorption and emission spectroscopy in Er3+-Yb3+ doped aluminum oxide waveguides

The spectroscopic properties of Al2O3 waveguides ion implanted with Er3+ and Yb3+ are investigated in view of their application in optical amplifiers operating at 1530 run. Absorption cross-sections are obtained by means of waveguide transmission experiments, taking into account the overlap between optical mode and doped region of the waveguide. Emission cross-sections for the Er3+:I-4(13/2) and Yb3+:F-2(5/2) levels are calculated from the absorption cross-sections. The rate coefficient for energy transfer between Yb3+ and Er3+ under excitation around 980 nm is estimated by emission intensity and decay rate measurements. It amounts to approximately 3.6 x 10(-11) cm(3)/S for concentrations of 0.29 at.% erbium and 0.28 at.% ytterbium. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.