title: Electrospun amplified fiber optics.
abstract: All-optical signal processing is the focus of much research aiming to obtain effective alternatives to existing data transmission platforms. Amplification of light in fiber optics, such as in Erbium-doped fiber amplifiers, is especially important for efficient signal transmission. However, the complex fabrication methods involving high-temperature processes performed in a highly pure environment slow the fabrication process and make amplified components expensive with respect to an ideal, high-throughput, room temperature production. Here, we report on near-infrared polymer fiber amplifiers working over a band of ∼20 nm. The fibers are cheap, spun with a process entirely carried out at room temperature, and shown to have amplified spontaneous emission with good gain coefficients and low levels of optical losses (a few cm(-1)). The amplification process is favored by high fiber quality and low self-absorption. The found performance metrics appear to be suitable for short-distance operations, and the large variety of commercially available doping dyes might allow for effective multiwavelength operations by electrospun amplified fiber optics.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Nanoscienze, Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche (CNR) , Via Arnesano, I-73100 Lecce, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morello
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Camposeo
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moffa
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pisignano
mesh_terms: D000669:Amplifiers, Electronic; D004871:Erbium / Q000737:chemistry; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry; D007259:Infrared Rays; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D055100:Optical Fibers; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D004871:Erbium; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate
keywords: dye-doped fibers; electrospinning; optical gain; plastic optical amplifier