Observation of fluorescence in an optically pumped erbium-containing perfluorinated medium at 1.5 microm.

We report what is to our knowledge the first observation of erbium fluorescence at the optical communication wavelength of 1.5 microm in a perfluorinated medium. Using a Nd:YAG (355-nm) source, we observed fluorescence of the 4I(13/2) - 4I(15/2) transition with a peak wavelength of 1.535 microm and with a full width at half-maximum of 28 nm. These results can lead to new active devices that use all-fluorinated polymers.