26dB optical gain in a rib waveguide dye-doped polymer amplifier operating at 625nm

Mark A. Reilly, Miguel Ramon, Claudio Marinelli, Christopher N. Morgan, Marilu Ariu, Ruidong Xia, Richard V. Penty, Ian H. White, Donal D.C. Bradley

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

1 Citation (SciVal)

Abstract

We demonstrate optical signal amplification in a solid-state dye-doped polymer with a rib waveguide structure. The device consists of a 1μm × 120μm poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) waveguide, doped with 1% by weight Rhodamine 640 dye, spin coated onto a silica substrate. A 625nm pulsed signal and a co-linear 575nm pump are facet coupled into the waveguide and optical amplification of the signal is demonstrated. Depending on the signal intensity, a maximum internal gain in the 21-26dB range at 625nm is achieved using a 1.2cm long waveguide. The device exhibits a promising signal-to-noise ratio in the 9-16dB range and has the potential for tuning in a 40-50nm wavelength window with the same dye, and throughout the visible spectrum using other dyes. The wavelength operating range of this device is also analyzed. We therefore present a compact, easy to fabricate, high gain block suitable for use in conjunction with plastic optical fibers, which have a low-loss window at around 640nm. Since most of the optical amplification takes place in a short region (< 10μm), an even more compact device geometry can be envisaged using a shorter waveguide.

Original languageEnglish
Article number35
Pages (from-to)208-216
Number of pages9
JournalProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume5724
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 21 Jul 2005
EventOrganic Photonic Materials and Devices VII - San Jose, CA, USA United States
Duration: 24 Jan 200526 Jan 2005

Keywords

  • Amplifier
  • Collinear
  • Dye-doped
  • Gain
  • Optical
  • PMMA
  • Polymer
  • Rhodamine
  • Visible
  • Waveguide

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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