Tellurite glasses rare-earth doped optical fibre devices: Recent progress and prospects

Abstract

Heavy metal oxide glasses and in particular tellurite possess several attractive optical properties amongst which a low phonon energy and a high rare earth ion solubility. Through these special physical characteristics, tellurite glasses allow for developing compact amplifier and laser devices at wavelengths where standard silica glass based devices either do not perform well or cannot access. We present our recent progress in terms of optical fibre fabrication for manufacturing compact devices operating in the C- and L- bands. Characterization of the fabricated fibre amplifier is also presented and discussed to conclude on the further optimization steps required to bring these devices to a commercial standard.