Optical fibers doped by semiconductor quantum dots: Avenue for new fiber laser sources.

In this communication we report the study of novel optical fibers doped by semiconductor quantum dots (QDs). Different approaches have been investigated to realize liquid-core fibers filled with PbSe QDs and hollow-core fibers with deposition of layers of these nanoparticles. The optical characterization demonstrates good levels of QD emission which can be tunable over a wide range of IR wavelengths. Finally, for the first time, we propose also the fabrication of PbS QDs solid-core fibers by melt and draw technique. These promising results could give birth to a new family of amplifiers and laser photonic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]