<title>Rare-earth-doped polymer optical amplifiers</title>

Abstract

Neodymium (Nd) doped polymer based optical amplifiers have been studied. NdCl₃.6H₂O and Nd(III) hexafluoracetylacetonate were used as dopants. Photoluminescence at 0.89 micrometers , 1.06 micrometers and 1.33 micrometers from Nd ions in polyimide was detected. Phase separation with possible formation of liquid crystal polymer was observed in NdCl₃.6H₂O doped polyimide. Thin film waveguides and multimode channel waveguides were fabricated using a novel planarizing technique to reduce scattering losses. Optical gain of about 5.4 dB at 1.06 micrometers was demonstrated in a 5 cm long NdCl₃.6H₂O doped polyimide channel waveguide.