Pulsed laser deposition for optical doping of active waveguide films

Waveguide films are successfully grown and doped with optically active erbium by pulsed laser deposition. Two approaches are followed. In one case, a phosphate glass already containing Er is used as a target. In the other case, a new experimental configuration is developed: Er is incorporated in an Al2O3 matrix by alternate ablation from Al2O3 and Er targets. In both cases the Er is active in the as deposited films. The second configuration has the advantage of allowing the independent control of the matrix and dopant parameters, thus the dopant concentration and profile can be easily modified.