Waveguide amplifiers in sputtered films of Er/sup 3+/-doped chalcogenide glass

We demonstrate the first chalcogenide glass waveguide amplifiers operating at a wavelength of 1.5 mum. The amplifiers, patterned in films of Er
³⁺
-doped gallium lanthanum sulfide glass, exhibit a total internal gain of 6.7 dB (2.8 dB/cm)