Multifunctional Optical Device With Electrooptic Er$^{3 +}$ and Yb$^{3 +}$ Doped Lanthanum-Modified Lead Zirconate Titanate Ceramic Gain Media

A novel multifunctional optical device, combining optical filtering, amplification, attenuation and switching functions in one unit, was designed and demonstrated in covering both C- and L-bands, by taking advantage of excellent electrooptic (EO) property in the gain media of 2.0 mol% Er
$^{3 +}$
doped and 2.0 mol%Er
$^{3 +}$
, 5.0 mol%Yb
$^{3 +}$
codoped lanthanum-modified lead zirconate titanate (PLZT) ceramics. In order to optimize the multifunctional device, the absorption and photoluminescence spectra and optical gain profiles of the core components-optically active ceramic variable waveplates were studied experimentally, along with the dielectric, optical, thermal and EO characterization of the typical non-memory ceramic plates. This work has paved a way leading to a broader spectrum of applications, specifically in constructing monolithic, array- and microchip-based devices and systems, with erbium and other rare earth doped PLZT ceramics as both gain media and electrically variable waveplates.