Gain characteristics of Er-doped ZSG waveguide optical amplifiers

This paper studies the spectral characteristics of a ZSG (Zn/sub 2/Si/sub 0.5/Ge/sub 0.5/O/sub 4/) host doped with approximately 0.5 at.% Er and the absorption and emission cross-sections at 1.5 /spl mu/m determined using the Ladenburg-Fuchtbauer relationship. The population statistics of the Er atoms are estimated from a rate equation model and a measured spontaneous emission power vs. pump power curve, and the calculated absorption and emission cross sections and populations are used to calculate the gain of waveguide amplifiers. The calculated gain is in good agreement with the measured gain, confirming the potential of ZSG for integrated waveguide amplifiers and enabling quantitative waveguide amplifier design for other geometries or Er densities.