Erbium doped fiber amplifiers for operation in harsh environments

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This two year project aims to minimize the degradation of Er-doped Fibre Amplifiers (EDFAs) under harsh environment by in situ synthesis of erbium-doped nanoparticles (Er-np), which exhibit superior resistance to gamma radiation. Three complementary approaches will be used to activate the clustering of Er-dopant within the fiber core: high temperature thermal treatment, optical/laser irradiation, and e-beam annealing, all within the feasibility parameters of our industrial partner, MPB Technologies Inc. Our proposed research also includes the deposition of protective coatings on EDFAs, made of pure heavy metal or polymer-metal mixtures, which is the specialty of our second industrial partner, Plasmionique Inc. The use of a conventional and classical heating treatment is inspired from our previous work on the synthesis of Si and Ge np in fused silica, showing that both np dimension and density can be controlled by the annealing parameters, such as temperature, time and gas environment. Techniques based on light irradiation will be performed using UV/IR lamps, continuous or pulsed lasers. These excitation sources have already been employed to produce Er emitting centers, whose photoluminescence properties are similar to those of thermally synthesized Er-np. As for the e-beam annealing experiments, which have already been employed to produce Er-np, they will be first performed using the beam of an electron microscope, to guide us towards the conception of a prototype set-up that will be easily transferable to MPB. All commercial EDFAs purchased by MPB will be treated at INRS, and characterized for optimization. These research activities include the testing of EDFAs under different radiation exposures. Our ultimate goal is to develop prototype devices using fabrication techniques compatible with MPB's and Plasmionique's facilities, for implementation in satellites or space explorer modules. The expected impact will result in advancing knowledge on the chemical and optical changes induced by various external excitations, including the kinetics of atomic diffusion within silica, and the development of high efficiency processes for the fabrication of new and more radiation-resistant EDFAs operable in harsh environments.