Abstract
Rib-loaded waveguides containing Er3+ ions coupled to Si nanoclusters (Si-nc) prepared by reactive magnetron co-sputtering have been studied with the aim of improving the optical amplification at 1.54 µm. A set of waveguides with different refractive indices has been fabricated by reducing the annealing duration to investigate the influence of the reorganization (quality) of the dielectric matrix and of the Si-nc clustering on the amplification of Er3+ signal. Insertion losses, photoluminescence, lifetime and pump/probe measurements have been carried out to characterize, understand and optimize the main factors that are preventing a net optical gain in these samples, i.e., low excitable erbium fraction through the nanoclusters, cooperative up-conversion and confined carrier absorption. Evidences of partial inversion of the Er3+ ions excited via Si-nc are presented.
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