Production of Yb3+/Er3+ codoped PbO-GeO2 pedestal type waveguides for photonic applications

We report experimental results on pedestal waveguides produced with Yb³⁺ /Er³⁺ codoped PbO-GeO₂ thin films deposited by RF Sputtering for photonic applications. Losses around 2.5 dB/cm and 1.5 dB/cm were obtained at 632 and 1068 nm, respectively, for waveguides in the 20-100 μm width range. Internal gain of 6.0 dB and 4.0 dB, at 1530 nm, under 980 nm excitation, were measured for waveguides width of 80 and 14 μm, respectively. The present results show the possibility of using Yb³⁺/Er³⁺ codoped PbO-GeO₂ pedestal waveguide for optical amplifiers.