Influence of gold nanoparticles on the 1.53 μm optical gain in Er3+/Yb3+: PbO-GeO2 RIB waveguides

We report the fabrication of waveguide amplifiers produced by RF-sputtering, using a PbO-GeO2 glass (PGO glass) film codoped with Er3+/Yb3+. RIB waveguides were obtained from PGO thin films using optical lithography followed by reactive ion etching process. The optical losses in the waveguide were approximate to 1.0 dB/cm and the maximum internal gain at 1.53 mu m, with excitation at 980 nm, was 3 dB/cm. Nanostructured gold films deposited on the waveguides enhanced the Er3+ ions photoluminescence (PL) by approximate to 400% in the red region and approximate to 30% in the infrared, under 980 nm pumping. The optical gain was enhanced and reached 6.5 dB/cm. The results demonstrate that the PGO waveguides, with or without gold nanoparticles, are promising for integrated photonics. (C)2014 Optical Society of America