Optical properties of Er(DBM)3Phen-doped polymer and fabrication of ridge waveguide

Abstract

Er(DBM)3Phen(DBM=dibenzoylmethane; phen=1,10-phenanthroline)-doped PMMA-GMA (poly-methyl-methacrylate-glyciclyl- methacrylate) copolymer is prepared, the absorption spectrum and photoluminescence spectrum are analyzed. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the photoluminescence spectrum is about 85nm. The Judd–Ofelt theory is used to analyse the absorption spectrum of Er3+ and obtain the intensity parameters: Ω2=4.08×10−20cm2, Ω4=0.77×10−20cm2 and Ω6=0.70×10−20cm2.The line strengths, predicted spontaneous transition probabilities and the radiative lifetime are calculated with the J–O intensity parameters. The calculated radiative lifetime of excited 4I13/2 state of Er3+ is 12.4ms. Ridge waveguide is fabricated using reactive ion etching. Based on the parameters we calculated, Er(DBM)3Phen-doped PMMA-GMA is a potential material for polymeric optical waveguide amplifiers.