Highly efficient cascaded amplification using Pr(3+)-doped mid-infrared chalcogenide fiber amplifiers

Opt Lett. 2015 Aug 15;40(16):3687-90. doi: 10.1364/OL.40.003687.

Abstract

We computationally investigate cascaded amplification in a three-level mid-infrared (IR) Pr(3+)-doped chalcogenide fiber amplifier. The overlap of the cross-sections in the transitions (3)H(6)→(3)H(5) and (3)H(5)→(3)H(4) enable both transitions to simultaneously amplify a single wavelength in the range between 4.25 μm and 4.55 μm. High gain and low noise are achieved simultaneously if the signal is at 4.5 μm. We show that 45% of pump power that is injected at 2 μm can be shifted to 4.5 μm. The efficiency of using a mid-IR fiber amplifier is higher than what can be achieved by using mid-IR supercontinuum generation, which has been estimated at 25%. This mid-IR fiber amplifier can be used in conjunction with quantum cascade lasers to obtain a tunable, high-power mid-IR source.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Chalcogens / chemistry*
  • Fiber Optic Technology*
  • Infrared Rays*
  • Praseodymium / chemistry*

Substances

  • Chalcogens
  • Praseodymium