A high gain, high output saturation power Pr/sup 3+/-doped fluoride fiber amplifier operating at 1.3 mu m

A high net gain of 30.1 dB at 1.309 mu m and an output saturation of 13 dBm are obtained using a Pr/sup 3+/-doped fluoride fiber amplifier pumped at 1.017 mu m. The critical Pr/sup 3+/ concentration at which concentration quenching begins to occur was obtained by fluorescence lifetime measurement. The Pr/sup 3+/ concentration should be less than 1000 ppm to suppress the concentration quenching by cross relaxation. A high signal output power of 17.8 dBm was extracted from the Pr/sup 3+/-doped fluoride fiber. The Pr/sup 3+/-doped fluoride amplifier shows good potential for use in 13. mu m telecommunication systems.<
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