Al2O3 slab waveguide films were doped with erbium using ion implantati
on to a peak concentration of 1.5 at. %. Prism coupling measurements s
how absorption caused by I-4(15/2) --> I-4(13/2) intra-4f transitions
in Er3+ with a maximum at 1.530 mu m of 8 dB/cm. The Er3+ absorption c
ross section is determined as a function of wavelength. We used the Mc
Cumber theory to derive the emission cross section spectrum from the a
bsorption results, which we then compared with the Er3+ photoluminesce
nce spectrum. The peak absorption and emission cross sections are foun
d to be 6 x 10(-21) cm(-2). The results are used to predict the optica
l gain performance of an Er-doped Al2O3 optical amplifier that operate
s around 1.5 mu m. (C) 1997 Optical Society of America.