The absorption and fluorescence spectra of rare earth ions in silica-based monomode fiber

Rare-earth ions have been systematically incorporated into the cores of silica-based optical fibers, and the absorption and fluorescence spectra have been measured. The results provide basic data for a wide range of possible future fiber-based devices. For specific telecommunications applications, ions that could be useful for sources in the 1.3-μm and 1.5-μm low-loss windows are identified. It is suggested that Er³⁺, Nd³⁺, and Tm³⁺ are the most promising ions for semiconductor pumping with GaAs-based laser diodes