Electrospun amplified fiber optics

We have reported on near–infrared polymer fiber amplifiers working over a band of about 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 multi–wavelength operations by electrospun amplified fiber optics.

Contact person: Dario Pisignano, NANO–CNR Pisa