Amplified spontaneous emission of an Nd3+-doped poly(methyl methacrylate) optical fiber at ambient temperature

Polymer optical fibers have received much attention in recent years as they can replace silica glass fibers in local area nets in the future. A neodymium ion (Nd3+)-doped poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) fiber has been made from Nd3+ containing PMMA as a core and silica resin as claddings. Fluorescence of the fiber results from the transition of 4G5/2 to 4I9/2 in a three energy level system. Amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) at 575 nm has also been observed and the critical power at a pump wavelength of 514.5 nm for the onset of ASE has been found to be 85 mW.