Superbroadband 1310 nm emission from bismuth and tantalum codoped germanium oxide glasses

Near-infrared broadband emission from bismuth–tantalum-codoped germanium oxide glasses was observed at room temperature when the glasses were pumped by an 808 nm laser diode. The emission band covered the O, E, S, C, and L bands (1260–1625 nm), with a maximum peak at $\sim 1310\mathrm{nm}$, a FWHM broader than 400 nm, and a lifetime longer than $200\mu \mathrm{s}$. The observed broadband luminescence was attributed to bismuth clusters in the glasses. Bismuth–tantalum-codoped germanium oxide glass might be promising as amplification media for broadly tunable lasers and wideband amplifiers in optical communications.