10 dB gain and high saturation power in a Nd3+-doped fluorozirconate fibre amplifier

Abstract
An optical gain as high as 10 dB is observed in an Nd3+-doped fluorozirconate fibre amplifier at the 1.343 μm wavelength by using simultaneous forward and backward pumping. Also, high saturation power characteristics are observed, and it may be possible to obtain a gain of 20 dB by cascading the doped fibre amplifiers and optimising fibre structure.