Visible to near-infrared broadband fluorescence from Ce-doped silica fiber

• Published in: Optical materials express 2021-08, Vol.11 (8), p.2528
• Main Authors: Yadav, Amit, Chichkov, Nikolai B., Gumenyuk, Regina, Ali-Löytty, Harri, Lahtonen, Kimmo, Valden, Mika, Melkumov, Mikhail A., Yashkov, Mikhail V., Zherebtsov, Evgeny, Rafailov, Edik U.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bandwidths; Broadband; Cerium; Chemical vapor deposition; Continuous radiation; Doped fibers; Fluorescence; Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry; Mass spectrometry; Photoelectrons; Semiconductor lasers; Silicon dioxide; Spectra; Technology assessment; Trace metals; Valence
• ISSN: 2159-3930; 2159-3930
• DOI: 10.1364/OME.432560

We investigate the fluorescence characteristics of a purely Ce-doped silica fiber and demonstrate broad-bandwidth fluorescence across the visible and near-infrared. The Ce-doped fiber is fabricated using standard modified chemical vapor deposition technology. Trace metal analysis by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry confirmed the purity of Ce-doping. The Ce valence state of 3+ was revealed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The optimum pump wavelength for the broadest luminescence from a fiber is scanned between 405 nm to 440 nm wavelength of diode lasers operating under continuous-wave regime. The strongest pump absorption is observed at the wavelength of 405 nm. Variation of pump power and fiber length results in the demonstration of broad-bandwidth fluorescence with spectral widths up to 301 nm (at -10 dB). The measured fluorescence spectra cover the wavelength range from ∼458 nm to ∼819 nm with spectral power densities of up to 2.4 nW/nm.