Gain Characteristics of Polymer Waveguide Amplifiers Based on NaYF4:Yb3+, Er3+ Nanocrystals at 0.54 μm Wavelength

Abstract

Gain characteristics of polymer waveguide amplifiers based on NaYF4:Yb3+, Er3+ nanocrystals (NCs) at 0.54 μm wavelength were investigated through numerical simulations. NaYF4:18%Yb3+, 10%Er3+ NCs were doped into SU-8 2005 polymer matrix as the core of a polymer waveguide. The absorption spectrum and photoluminescence spectrum of the NCs were recorded and analyzed. The Judd-Ofelt parameters were achieved by means of Judd-Ofelt theory: Ω2 = 6.302×10−20 cm2, Ω4 = 0.69×10−20 cm2, Ω6 = 7.572×10−20 cm2. We simulated the gain characteristics of the waveguide amplifier at 0.54 μm wavelength by combining the atomic rate equations with power propagation equations. The gain curves had the saturation effects. A maximum gain ∼4.3 dB for the 5 cm waveguide with the Er3+ concentration of ∼7.5×1025 m−3 was obtained.