A new broadband amplified spontaneous emission light source from an Er3+/Tm3+ co-doped silica fiber

A new amplified spontaneous emission source from an Er/Tm co-doped silica fiber is reported. When pumped with a 980 nm laser diode, the 3 dB bandwidth over 90 nm was achieved without any external filters. It is believed that energy transfer between the sensitizing ion, Er/sup 3+/ and the acceptor ion, Tm/sup +3/ is an important role for increment of bandwidth.