Patent ID: 6304711
Filing Date: 2001-10-16
Classification: C03C,H01S

Abstract:
An optical waveguide device formed at least in part of neodymium-doped fluoroaluminate optical glass having a refractive index, at a wavelength of 600 nm, of less than or equal to about 1.444, in which the optical glass has a composition comprising:35 to 45 mol % AlF.sub.3 ;5 to 30 mol % RF.sub.2, where R is selected from the group consisting of Ca, Mg, Sr and Ba;5 to 25 mol % MF, where M is selected from the group consisting of Na, Li, K and Rb; and0.001 to 10 mol % NdF.sub.3 ; andwherein the device has a 1.3 .mu.m neodynium emission wavelength, from a .sup.4 F.sub.3/2 to .sup.4 I.sub.13/2 transition, as well as a 1.3 .mu.m excited state absorption, from a .sup.4 F.sub.3/2 to .sup.4 G.sub.7/2 transition, and wherein the optical glass has said composition providing a line strength ratio of the 1.3 .mu.m neodynium emission to the 1.3 .mu.m excited state absorption sufficiently large to provide gain at wavelengths less than 1320 nm within the second telecom window between 1300 and 1350 nm.