A device amplifies light at wavelengths in the vicinity of 1420-1530 nm, using
thulium doped silica-based optical fiber. This wavelength band is of interest as
it falls in the low-loss optical fiber telecommunications window, and is somewhat
shorter in wavelength than the currently standard erbium doped silica fiber amplifier.
The device thus extends the band of wavelengths which can be supported for long-distance
telecommunications. The additional wavelength band allows the data transmission
rate to be substantially increased via wavelength division multiplexing (WDM),
with minimal modification to the standard equipment currently used for WDM systems.
The host glass is directly compatible with standard silica-based telecommunications
fiber. The invention also enables modified silicate based amplifiers and lasers
on a variety of alternative transitions. Specifically, an S-band thulium doped
fiber amplifier (TDFA) using a true silicate fiber host is described.
