Enhanced broadband near-infrared luminescence and optical amplification in Yb–Bi codoped phosphate glasses

Abstract

Yb–Bi codoped phosphate glass was prepared and its properties were compared with Bi-doped phosphate glass. The broadband infrared luminescence intensity from Yb–Bi codoped glass was ∼32 times stronger than that of Bi-doped glass. The single-pass optical amplification was measured on a traditional two-wave mixing configuration. No optical amplification was observed in Bi-doped glass, while apparent broadband optical amplification between 1272 and 1336nm was observed from Yb–Bi codoped glass with 980nm laser diode excitation. The highest gain coefficient at 1272nm of Yb–Bi codoped glass reached to 2.62cm−1. Yb–Bi codoped phosphate glass is a promising material for broadband optical amplification.