Optical amplification on the P-3(0)-> F-3(2) transition in praseodymium-doped fluorozirconate fiber

Small-signal amplification on the P-3(0) --> F-3(2) transition in a praseod ymium-doped fluorozirconate optical fiber at the 632.8-nm He-Ne wavelength, has realized a slope efficiency of 0.15 dB/mW and up to 14 dB gain. Spectr oscopic and fiber parameters, including the pump absorption cross section ( sigma(p)(a) = 0.14 +/- 0.02 x 10 (-) (24) m(2)), the signal emission cross section (sigma(s)(e) = 2.1 +/- 0.2 x 10 (- 24) m(2)), and the P-3(0) State lifetime (tau(3) = 49.8 +/- 0.3 mu s) determined experimentally, independen tly of the gain, were used to model the performance of the amplifier The pr edictions of the rate equation model were in good agreement with the measur ed gain.