Abstract

It has been shown that Si nanoparticles (NPs) can be efficient broadband sensitizers for Er³⁺ in silica-based materials. This effect has great technological interest for the development of efficient integrated planar optical waveguides amplifiers. Nevertheless to take full advantage of this effect it is necessary to develop new materials and synthesis methods that allow independent control of the NPs size and concentration, and of the separation between Si NPs and Er³⁺ ions.

© 2007 IEEE