OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE AMPLIFIERS

摘要

The present invention relates to optical waveguide devices and optical waveguide amplifiers for amplification in a range from 1.5microm to about 1.6microm wavelength. The present invention also relates to optical waveguide devices (30, 50) and optical waveguide amplifiers (40) for amplification in a range from 1.27microm to about 1.6microm wavelength, advantageously for about 1.3microm wavelength amplification. The present invention also relates to planar optical waveguides (30), fiber waveguides, and communications systems employing them. The optical waveguide devices according to the present invention comprise a polymer host matrix (10). Within the polymer host matrix (10), a plurality of nanoparticles (11, 21, 71) can be incorporated to form a polymer nanocomposite. To obtain amplification in the above-described range, the nanoparticles comprises Erbium. The host matrix itself may comprise composite materials, such as polymer nanocomposites, and further the nanoparticles themselves may comprise composite materials.