Broadband optical amplification in silicate glass-ceramic containing beta-Ga(2)O(3):Ni(2)+ nanocrystals

We demonstrate broadband optical amplification at 1.3 mum in silicate glass-ceramics containing beta-Ga(2)O(3):Ni(2)+ nanocrystals with 980 nm excitation for the first time. The optical gain efficiency is calculated to be about 0.283 cm(-1) when the excitation power is 1.12 W. The optical gain shows similar wavelength dependence to luminescence properties.