Bismuth oxide nonlinear fiber based optical devices for telecommunications

The optical fiber fabrication technology based on Bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) material has advanced significantly in recent years and has resulted in the production of a variety of high quality of Bi2O3 based optical fibers: for example, rare-earth doped Bi2O3 fibers and highly nonlinear Bi2O3 fibers (Bi-NLF). One of the most striking and attractive possibilities offered by the Bi2O3 based optical fibers is the opportunity to implement a range of nonlinear optical signal processing devices with only a meter or less length of the fiber due to its ultra-high material nonlinear coefficient, which is 100 times higher than that of silica. The state-of-the-art Bismuth Oxide based nonlinear optical fiber technology for nonlinear optical signal processing devices is reviewed from a viewpoint of possible application for telecommunications.