Spectroscopy and decay kinetics of Pr{sup 3+}-doped chloride crystals for 1300-nm optical amplifiers

Abstract

Several Pr{sup 3+}-doped chloride crystals have been tested spectroscopically for suitability as 1300-nm optical amplifiers operating on the {sup 1}G{sub 4} - {sup 3}H{sub 5} transition. {sup 1}G{sub 4} lifetimes are much longer than in fluoride hosts, ranging up to 1300 {mu}sec and suggesting a near-unity luminescence quantum yield. Emission spectra are typically broad (FWHM {approximately} 70 nm) and include the 1310-nm zero-dispersion wavelength of standard telecommunications fiber