A fiber optic article, such as an optical fiber or an optical preform, can include a core comprising a concentration of erbium, a concentration of fluorine and a concentration of ytterbium for sensitizing the erbium by absorbing pump light and transferring energy to the erbium. The erbium can provide light having a second wavelength different than the wavelength of the pump light. The article can also include a concentration of phosphorus. The fiber optic article can include a cladding disposed about the core, where the cladding has an index of refraction that is less than the index of refraction of the core, and a second cladding disposed about the first cladding, where the second cladding includes an index of refraction than is less than the index of refraction of the cladding. The fiber optic article can be elongate along a longitudinal axis and can include a longitudinally extending region for providing birefringence.