Wideband bismuth- and erbium-codoped optical fiber amplifier for C  +  L  +  U-telecommunication band

Bi- and Er-codoped germanosilicate optical fibers have been fabricated and studied as a potential gain medium for fiber-based devices operating in the near infrared region. A broadband optical amplifier operating in the wavelength range from 1515 to 1775 nm has been realized using the developed bismuth- and erbium-codoped fibers. The 15 dB small-signal gain band covers 260 nm when pumped by a laser diode at 1460 nm with an output power of 350 mW.