Title :
Prediction of long-term hydrogen-induced loss increases in Er-doped amplifier fibers
Author :
Lemaire, P.J. ; Watson, H.A. ; DiGiovanni, D.J. ; Walker, K.L.
Author_Institution :
AT&T Bell Lab., Murray Hill, NJ, USA
Abstract :
Accelerated hydrogen aging tests have shown that Er-doped amplifier fibers of typical compositions react quickly with even trace levels of H/sub 2/, causing spectrally broad OH loss increases that influence signal and pump wavelengths. These loss increases have been noted in Er fibers made by different techniques and by different manufacturers. Loss increases at 1.55 mu m of 1 to 10 dB per 20-m device are predicted for nonhermetically coated fibers exposed to 0.001 atm of H/sub 2/ for 25 years at normal operating temperatures. These hydrogen induced losses can be prevented by using high-quality hermetic coatings to limit the H/sub 2/ that reaches the reactive fiber core.<>
Keywords :
erbium; fibre lasers; life testing; optical fibre testing; optical losses; protective coatings; 0.001 atm; 1 to 10 dB; 1.55 micron; 20 m; 25 years; Er-doped amplifier fibers; H/sub 2/; IR; accelerated ageing tests; high-quality hermetic coatings; nonhermetically coated fibers; normal operating temperatures; optical losses; optical pumping; pump wavelengths; reactive fiber core; signal wavelengths; spectrally broad OH loss increases; trace levels; Epitaxial layers; Hydrogen; Integrated optics; Optical amplifiers; Optical fiber amplifiers; Optical fiber devices; Optical waveguides; Semiconductor optical amplifiers; Stimulated emission; Waveguide lasers;
Journal_Title :
Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE
