Channel waveguide laser at 1 μm in Yb-indiffused LiNbO_3

Abstract

We report laser action in a Ti-diffused LiNbO(3) waveguide doped with trivalent Yb ions by thermal indiffusion. Lasing was observed at 1008, 1030, and 1060 nm with thresholds as low as 15-mW launched pump power. We reduced photorefractivity, which initially permitted only intermittent lasing, by annealing the sample in wet O(2). The annealed sample lased continuously in a cavity formed by high-ref lectivity mirrors; however, with a 7% output coupler the output power exhibited instabilities. The greatest value of the output power observed under these conditions was consistent with a slope efficiency of ~16% with respect to absorbed power.

Spectroscopy of ytterbium-doped tantalum pentoxide rib waveguides on silicon

“…While planar waveguides have the disadvantage of higher loss coefficients when compared with optical fibers, this is of minor importance in the case of a high-gain system such as Yb 3+ (in contrast to Er 3+ ) and the planar configuration has the further advantages of monolithic integration of mass-produced devices and of straightforward heat removal [4]. Many host materials have been exploited in the realisation of Yb-doped waveguide lasers and amplifiers, including YAG [5,6], LiNbO 3 [7,8], KGd(WO 4 ) 2 [9][10][11], LiYF 4 [12], silicate [13], phosphate [14,15] and bismuthate glasses [16] and Al 2 O 3 [17]. Waveguide materials and processes that are compatible with silicon processing are strongly favoured for low-cost mass-manufacture.…”

Ytterbium-doped glass waveguide laser fabricated by ion exchange

“…Yb 3 -doped, planar, waveguide lasers have been fabricated in YAG by epitaxial growth [22] and by ion implantation [23]. Yb 3 -doped, channel, waveguide lasers have also been reported in gadolinium gallium garnet [24] and lithium niobate [25]. In addition, low-power, all-optical, switching devices have been demonstrated in Yb 3 -doped optical fibers [26] and planar waveguides [27] based on pump-induced resonant nonlinearities at 1301 and 1545 nm.…”

Yb‐indiffused LiNbO3 annealed/proton‐exchanged waveguide lasers

“…Thermal processing of this crystal was performed with a quartz electric furnace in an oxygen environment. The oxygen flow rate was 50 cm 3 /min, and the diffusion temperature and diffusion time were 1100 °C and 250 hours [6]. Figure 3 shows the photographs of the crystal surface observed with an optical microscope after diffusion.…”

“…Figure 1 shows an energy level diagram of Yb in LiNbO 3 [6]. Due to photoexcitation near a wavelength of 0.9 µm, light emission at a wavelength of ~1.0 µm is obtained.…”

“…The first Yb:LiNbO 3 laser has been realized with a Y-axis propagation Ti-diffused waveguide [6]. However, due to optical damage caused by strong pump beam, laser oscillation lasted only for about 1 minute.…”