Stimulated emission from sensitized erbium ions in silicon-rich silicon nitride is demonstrated by pump-probe measurements carried out in waveguides. A decrease in the photoinduced absorption of the probe at the wavelength of erbium emission is observed and is attributed to stimulated emission from erbium excited indirectly via localized states in the silicon nitride matrix.

Silica-on-silicon erbium-doped waveguide amplifiers (EDWAs) fabricated by the sol-gel route are demonstrated. The preparation of stable sols is first described, with emphasis on identifying chemical routes that allow the incorporation of sufficient concentration of erbium without precipitation or gelation. Erbium-doped glasses containing various codopants, such as phosphorus, aluminum, germaniu...

In this thesis, the materials aspects of erbium-doped silicon (Si:Er) are studied to maximize Si:Er luminescence intensity and to improve Si:Er performance as an optoelectronic semiconductor material. Studies of erbium (Er) and silicon (Si) reactivity, erbium diffusion and solubility in silicon, Si:Er heat treatment processing with oxygen and fluorine co-implantation and the mechanism of Si:Er ...

This paper reviews our recent experimental work on erbium incorporated into gallium arsenide during MBE growth. The electrical behaviour of the erbium is considered in relation to its interaction with intentionally added dopants (silicon, selenium and berylium) and the effect of the erbium on the deep state population is discussed. At higher concentrations the morphology of phase separation is ...

In this work, the construction of a single stage L-band erbium-doped fiber amplifier which incorporates a short 5.1 m erbium doped fiber coil is described. Gain and noise figure measurements as a function of forward, backward and counter-propagating CW 1480 nm pumping schemes at different pump power levels are presented. Further, the Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifier (EDFA) power conversion efficien...

In an effort to better understand the structural changes occurring during hydrogen loading of erbium target materials, we have performed in-situ D2 loading of erbium metal (powder) at temperature (450C) with simultaneous neutron diffraction analysis. This experiment tracked the conversion of Er metal to the  erbium deuteride (solid-solution) phase and then on to the  (fluorite) phase. Complet...

The compounds BaLn(2)Se(4) (Ln = rare-earth metal = lanthanide = Er, Tm and Yb), namely barium di(erbium/thulium/ytterbium) tetraselenide, crystallize in the orthorhombic space group Pnma in the CaFe(2)O(4) structure type. In this structure type, all atoms possess m symmetry. The Ln atoms are octahedrally coordinated by six Se atoms. A three-dimensional channel structure is formed by the corner...

Erbium--169 was compared with triamcinolone hexacetonide in the topical treatment of 32 patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. Erbium--169 was injected into 83 and triamcinolone hexacetonide into 54 proximal interphalangeal or metacarpophalangeal joints. Both treatments produced alleviation of joint pain and swelling and improvement of grip strength. At every check-up (1--18 months) the ...

Bulk yttrium oxysulfide phosphors were prepared using the polysulfide flux method. The morphology and structure was characterized using transmission electron microscopy and x-ray powdered diffraction. Visible emissions occurring near 530 and 550 nm and 660 670 nm consistent with the H11/2, S3/2 → I15/2 and F9/2 → I15/2 transitions, respectively, were observed under 808, 980, and 1560 nm excitat...

• Understand the principle of operation of the erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA). • Construct an EDFA and an erbium-doped fiber laser. • Measure and calculate the essential parameters of the constructed EDFA. The basic theories on optical amplification by erbium-doped fibers are presented in this section as preparation for the discussions on noise characteristics and noise reduction methods p...