Newsroom
What is an Er/Yb doped fiber?
(Erbium/Ytterbium doped fiber)
Erbium/Ytterbium doped fibers are optical fibers whose glass core is doped with erbium (Er³⁺) and ytterbium (Yb³⁺) ions to provide optical gain. They are used as gain media in fiber amplifiers and lasers, particularly around the 1.5–1.6 µm wavelength range.
Ytterbium efficiently absorbs pump light, typically around 940–980 nm, and transfers energy to erbium ions, which then amplify or generate light at longer wavelengths. This co-doping approach combines efficient pump absorption with the useful emission properties of erbium.
HOW an Erbium/Ytterbium Doped Fibers Work
The principle can be understood through three main steps:
Pump absorption
Ytterbium ions absorb energy from a pump laser, typically at a wavelength around 980 nm.
Energy transfer
Excited ytterbium ions transfer their energy to erbium ions within the fiber core, efficiently populating the erbium excited state.
Optical amplification
Erbium ions release the stored energy through stimulated emission, amplifying an optical signal typically around 1.5 µm.
