Er3+-doped lutetium borosilicate glass for optical signal amplification at 1.5 μm

A new glass of Lu2O3-B2O3-SiO2-Na2O-Er2O3 System is prepared by the technique of high-temperature melting at different temperatures and the formation range of the glass is experimentally obtained. Effects of the B2O3 content on the infrared spectral properties such as the 1.5 mu m emission bandwidth corresponding to I-4(13/2) -> I-4(15/2) transition and the Judd-Ofelt parameter Omega(t) (t = 2, 4, 6) of Er3+ ions in the glass has been observed. The glass exhibits big integrated emission cross sections for the 1.5 mu m emission band. Excellent thermal stability of the glass has been demonstrated using differential thermal analysis. The Er3+-doped lutetium borosilicate glass is a great candidate for broadband erbium doped fiber amplifiers.