Signal enhancement in Er3+ coupled to Si nanoclusters rib-waveguides

The use of broadband efficient sensitizers for Er3+ ions relaxes the expensive conditions needed for the pump source and raises the performances of the optical amplifier. Within this context Si nanoclusters (Si-nc) in silica matrices have revealed as optimum sensitizers and open the route towards electrically pumped optical amplifiers. In this work we present insertion losses and pump/probe measurements, which have been carried out on rib-loaded waveguides containinv Er3+ ions coupled to Si-nc. These samples have been prepared by a multi-wafers reactive magnetron co-sputtering of a pure silica target topped with Er2O3 pellets. Our objective with this research is to characterize, understand and optimize the main factors that are preventing net optical gain in these samples, i.e. low excitable erbium fraction through the nanoclusters. Evidences of signal enhancement and partial inversion of the Er3+ ions excited via Si-nc will be presented and discussed.