Optical absorption and emission properties of Nd3+doped fluorophosphates glass for broadband fiber amplifier applications

A new series of fluorophosphates glass is developed which can be doped with an extremely high concentration of Nd3+. The dopant concentration dependence of optical absorption and emission properties is reported here for the concentration range of 2.5x10(20) to 1.25x10(21) (ions/cm(3)). Absorption and emission measurements are performed in order to evaluate the spontaneous emission probability, absorption cross-section, emission cross-section, and laser performance parameters. The stimulated emission cross section for the F-4(3/2)-->I-4(13/2) transition increases from 1.14 to 1.64 (x10(4) cm(2)) and for the F-4(3/2)-->I-4(11/2) transition from 3.68 to 6.68 (x10(4) cm(2)) in the MBBA/NdI and the MBBA/NdII, respectively. The extraction efficiency was recorded in the range of 1.91 - 2.73 for F-4(3/2)-->I-4(13/2) and 6.18 - 9.41 for F-4(3/2)-->I-4(11/2) for the MBBA/NdI and the MBBA/NdII, respectively. The new (Mg, Ba)F-2-based fluorophosphates glass (MBBA system) is promising for broadband compact optical fiber and waveguide amplifier applications.