Broadband optical amplification with water-free hexagonal double-clad Bi doped silica fiber

1.3 - 1.55 micron optical amplifiers for the long distance up-stream and down-stream networks for a future increase of fiber access networks in telecommunications are attractive. A bismuth-doped silica glass has a potential of the broadband spectrum as lasers and amplifier applications at 1.3 -1.55 micron. The bismuth-doped fiber lasers and amplifiers were discussed by the MOCVD method. In this report optical amplification characteristics at 1.3 - 1.55 micron are presented with the water free hexagonal double-clad bismuth-doped silica fiber (HDC-BDF) made by the vertical axial vapor-phase deposition (VAD) method. The bismuth and aluminum ions were vapor–phase doped into the silicon and germanium oxide. Pumping into the HDC-BDF was performed by using the tilt-polished fiber from the hexagonal surface with the multimode fiber pigtail of the pumping LD. 2 dB amplified gain was obtained with less than -40 dBm CW input signal power at 1310nm.