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Broadband Packaged Erbium-Doped Polycrystalline Al2O3 Waveguide Amplifier with 24 dB External Net Gain.
Optics Express
|July 30, 2025
Summary
We developed a robust erbium-doped waveguide amplifier using polycrystalline alumina, achieving high gain and broad bandwidth. This scalable platform offers stable optical amplification for integrated circuits, even at high temperatures.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Photonics
- Optical Engineering
Background:
- Erbium-doped waveguide amplifiers (EDWAs) are crucial for optical communication.
- Developing compact, high-gain, and stable amplifiers remains a key challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a novel packaged EDWA based on polycrystalline Al2O3:Er3+.
- To demonstrate high performance, stability, and temperature robustness for practical applications.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a 50 cm polycrystalline Al2O3:Er3+ waveguide amplifier.
- Integration with fiber arrays and thermoelectric control.
- Bidirectional pumping at 1480 nm and characterization across C- and L-bands.
Main Results:
- Achieved 24 dB external net gain and >54 mW output power at 1550 nm.
- Demonstrated broad gain bandwidth over a 90 nm span (1525-1615 nm).
- Maintained 17 dB gain at 95°C, showing excellent thermal stability.
Conclusions:
- Polycrystalline Al2O3:Er3+ is a promising scalable platform for high-performance optical amplifiers.
- The developed EDWA offers a robust solution for photonic integrated circuits.
- The device's stability and performance highlight its potential for advanced optical systems.
