Evidence of Yb-to-Er energy transfer in AlPO4 : Yb3+/Er3+ nanoparticle-doped silica optical fiber preform

The present work focuses on the development of a new material for the achievement of Er3+-doped fiber amplifiers. In order to increase the efficiency of such optical components and to reduce their size, we have applied an approach of material nanostructuration to glass synthesis and have fabricated an optical fibre preform based on a pure silica matrix doped with AlPO4: Yb3+/Er3+ nanoparticles (NPs). This glass has been used as core of an air/silica Photonic Crystal Fiber (PCF).