The invention includes optical signal conduits having rare earth elements
incorporated therein. The optical signal conduits can, for example,
contain rare earth elements incorporated within a dielectric material
matrix. For instance, erbium or cerium can be within silicon nanocrystals
dispersed throughout dielectric material of optical signal conduits. The
dielectric material can define a path for the optical signal, and can be
wrapped in a sheath which aids in keeping the optical signal along the
path. The sheath can include any suitable barrier material, and can, for
example, contain one or more metallic materials. The invention also
includes methods of forming optical signal conduits, with some of such
methods being methods in which the optical signal conduits are formed to
be part of semiconductor constructions.