Ion-exchanged Er/Yb phosphate glass waveguide amplifiers and lasers

Characteristics of potassium-ion-exchanged channel wave- guide amplifiers fabricated in a commercial phosphate glass with 1.65 wt% Er2O3 and 22 wt% Yb2O3 are reported. Theoretical investigations reveal that at 1.530-mm signal wavelength, 4.2 dB/cm can be achieved in potassium-ion-exchanged waveguides when 120-mW pump power at 974-nm wavelength is used. Theoretical studies predict 42% slope effi- ciency with 42.5-mW threshold pump power in a 1.0-cm-long potassium- ion-exchanged waveguide lasers in this glass.