Properties of dysprosium-doped gallium lanthanum sulfide fiber amplifiers operating at 1.3 mu m

In light of recent progress in the fabrication of gallium lanthanum sulfide (GaLaS) fibers, we have modeled the performance of dysprosium-doped GaLaS fiber amplifiers operating at 1.3 mu m Based on experimental data, we find that the incorporation of a codopant (terbium) in the fiber core significantly shortens the optimum amplifier length from >30 m to similar to 3 m. Such a device may be practical, given the fiber losses currently achieved in GaLaS fibers. (C) 1997 Optical Society of America.