Effect of Ce 3+ codoping on Er 3+-doped bismuth-germanate glass and fiber under 980 nm excitation

Abstract

Er 3+/Ce 3+ codoped bismuth-germanate glasses with the composition of Bi 2O 3-GeO 2-Ga 2O 3-Na 2O were prepared by the conventional melt-quenching method. The absorption spectra, fluorescence spectra, upconversion emission and lifetimes of Er 3+ ions were measured, and the effects of Ce 3+-doping on the spectroscopic properties of 1.53 μm band fluorescence of Er 3+ ion were investigated based on the analysis of energy transfer between Er 3+ and Ce 3+ ions. The results indicate that the 1.53 μm band fluorescence intensity can be improved evidently with the Ce 3+-doped concentration under the excitation of 980 nm. Meanwhile, the theoretical simulation based on the population rate equation and light power propagation equation indicates that the C + L band signal gain can also be improved dramatically by introducing Ce 3+ ions into the Er 3+-doped bismuth-germanate glass fiber. Therefore, it is necessary to introduce Ce 3+ ions when Er 3+-doped bismuth-germanate glass with low phonon energy is applied to the 1.53 μm band broad Er 3+-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA).