Performance analysis of nanocluster-Si sensitized Er-doped waveguide amplifier using top-pumped 470nm LED

Hansuek Lee,Jung H Shin,Namkyoo Park

doi:10.1364/opex.13.009881

Abstract

We analyze the performance of nanocrystal-Si (nc-Si) sensitized Er-doped waveguide amplifier using coupled nc-Si-Erbium rate equation, and suggest novel structures / operation methods which can be used to enhance its performance figures. With 2-dimensional modified propagation equation applied for the pump / signal waves along with modest assumptions on design parameters, we show that 10dB of gain with 0dBm input signal can be achieved with currently available pump LED power.

Highlights

Out of many approaches developed so far to achieve low-cost micro amplifiers for the access / metro network, Erbium doped waveguide amplifier (EDWA) has been considered to be the most promising candidate due to its well known characteristics inherited from its relative, the EDFA
A technique that has attracted a great attention as a possible solution to these problems is nanocrystal Si sensitization of erbium [1,2,3,4,5] in which nc-Si, acting as a co-dopant to Er ions, absorbs pump photons, creates photo-carriers, and transfers the energy to nearby Er ions through an Auger-like process [6]
We provide, for the first time a detailed performance analysis of an nc-Si co-doped Er waveguide amplifier (NC-EDWA) that targets a real application

Summary

Introduction

Out of many approaches developed so far to achieve low-cost micro amplifiers (amplets) for the access / metro network, Erbium doped waveguide amplifier (EDWA) has been considered to be the most promising candidate due to its well known characteristics inherited from its relative, the EDFA. Additional advantage from the co-doping of nc-Si comes from the enhanced Er emission cross-sections at 1.5μm, enabling high gain without the need of high Er concentration – avoiding the performance degradation from the quenching effect [3, 7, 8]. Following these observations, the possibility of achieving positive optical gain has been demonstrated / assessed in terms of both experimental [9, 10] and theoretical means [7, 11]. Results show a high feasibility of achieving 10dBm of output power with 0dBm of signal input signal, using an array of commercially available high-power blue-green LEDs as the top-pumping nc-Si excitation source

Model equations

Performance analysis

Findings

Conclusion