Broadband 1.5-μm emission of high erbium-doped Bi2O3–B2O3–Ga2O3 glasses

Abstract High Erbium-doped glass showing the wider 1.5-μm emission band is reported in the Bi 2 O 3 –B 2 O 3 –Ga 2 O 3 system and its thermal stability and optical properties such as absorption, emission spectra, absorption and stimulated emission cross-sections and fluorescence lifetime are investigated. Compared with other glass hosts, the gain bandwidth properties of high Er 3+ content in BBG glass are better than those of tellurite, germanate, silicate and phosphate glasses. The broad and flat 4 I 13/2 → 4 I 15/2 emission and the larger stimulated emission cross-section of Er 3+ ions around 1.5 μm enable it to be used as a host material for potential broadband optical amplifiers at C and L bands in the microchip configuration.