Propagation losses and gain measurements in erbium-doped fluoride glass channel waveguides by use of a double-pass technique.

We have studied Er3+, Yb3+, and Ce3+ codoped microchannel waveguides that were developed by two methods: ionic exchange for heavy metal fluoride glasses [ZrF4-BaF2-AlF3-CeF3 (ZBAC)] and vapor phase deposition for transition metal fluoride glasses [PbF2-ZnF2-GaF3 (PZG)] by using a double-pass technique. For the first time to our knowledge, the measurement of propagation losses and amplification tests were carried out by use of the same experimental setup, leading to complete characterization of the waveguides. Net gains higher than 1 dB/cm were achieved in ZBAC Er/Ce single-mode fluoride glass waveguides.