Broadband optical amplifier based on a conjugated polymer

We demonstrate a compact, broadband optical amplifier using the conjugated polymer poly[2-methoxy-5-(2',6'-dimethyloctyloxy)-paraphenylenevinylene] (OC1C10-PPV) in dilute solution. Gains of 30-40 dB in a wavelength range of 575-640 nm, corresponding to a 50 THz bandwidth, are observed due to the broad luminescence spectrum and large cross section for stimulated emission of the polymer. The variation in gain as a function of solution concentration and probe intensity is examined. For a 1 cm path length we observe a small signal gain of 44+/-1 dB, and deduce a stimulated emission cross-section for OC1C10-PPV of (5.3+/-0.6)x10(-17) cm(2). (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.