Stimulated emission and optical gain in LaF3:Nd nanoparticle-doped polymer-based waveguides

We report experiments which show evidence that stimulated emission at 863nm takes place in hybrid monomode Si3N4 waveguides where LaF3:Nd nanoparticle-doped polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) was used as a top cladding material. Furthermore, optical gain at 1319nm in LaF3:Nd nanoparticle dispersed PMMA (0.1dB∕cm) and photodefinable epoxy (Microchem SU-8) multimode waveguides has been observed at pump powers below 10mW. This class of composite materials based on polymers with dispersed nanoparticles shows promising properties for planar optical amplifiers. Simulation showed that optical gain in the order of 10dB can be achieved at 100mW pump power in a 20cm long monomode waveguide.