Optical amplification in Yb3+-codoped thulium doped silica fiber

Abstract Ytterbium–thulium-codoped silica fiber is proposed and studied for the first time. We first established a novel model for Yb 3+ –Tm 3+ -codoped silica fiber amplifier based on the Yb 3+ to Tm 3+ energy transfer. Using appropriate fiber parameters and energy transfer parameters, we analyzed and solved the coupled rate equations. We have obtained improved gain results in comparison to silica fiber amplifiers doped with Tm 3+ only. The results demonstrated that the ytterbium to thulium energy transfer process in the material is significant and beneficial.