Enhanced Raman gain coefficients and bandwidths of sodium-niobium-phosphate glasses for Raman gain media

In recent years, several strategies have been developed in order to demonstrate integrated light sources. Among them, the possibility of light amplification and/or generation based on Raman emission has achieved significant results. In this paper, sodium-niobium phosphate glasses doped with rare earths (Er and Sm) have been investigated by Raman spectroscopy. Spectral features pertaining to Nb- and P-related structures in the glasses are clearly observed. Their combination enormously increases the bandwidth of the Raman spectra with respect silica glasses. The calculated Raman gain coefficient G is approximately 24 times higher than in conventional silica glasses, pointing out the promising characteristics of these sodium-niobium-phosphate glasses for the realization of Raman amplifiers[1]. [1]L. Sirleto, M.G. Donato, G. Messina, S. Santangelo, A.A. Lipovskii, D.K. Tagantsev, S. Pelli and G.C. Righini6 Raman gain in Niobium-Phosphate Glasses, accepted Applied Physics Letters