Laser operation of a Tm:Y_2O_3 planar waveguide

Abstract

Abstract:We demonstrate the first Tm-doped yttria planar waveguide laser to our knowledge, grown by pulsed laser deposition. A maximum output power of 35 mW at 1.95 µm with 9% slope efficiency was achieved from a 12 µm-thick film grown on a Y 3 Al 5 O 12 substrate.

Pulsed laser deposited diode-pumped 74 W Yb:Lu_2O_3 planar waveguide laser

“…This is in agreement with spectra obtained from the crystal database [10] that has been used to identify the peaks present in Fig The sample thickness was measured to be 8 µm, and the number of surface particulates was counted at five positions over the sample by an optical interferometric microscope and associated software. Using the mean of these readings, the particulate density for this sample has been calculated to be approximately 1.5 x 10 4 cm −2 for particulates >100 nm and 2.2 x 10 4 cm −2 for particulates >50 nm; these values are roughly comparable to those reported in [11] for particulates >100 nm and around a factor of 7x fewer for those >50 nm. To determine the emission characteristics, light from a broad-stripe diode laser operating close to the zero-phonon line, at 976 nm, was focussed into the Yb:Lu 2 O 3 waveguide through one of the polished end facets.…”

Crystal Planar Waveguides, a Power Scaling Architecture for Low-Gain Transitions

“…The first demonstration of a 2 at% Tm:Y 2 O 3 PWL was also demonstrated by our group recently [74]. A slope efficiency of ß9 % was calculated with respect to the incident Ti:sapphire laser pump power.…”

Yb:YAG planar waveguide lasers grown by pulsed laser deposition: 70% slope efficiencies at 16 W of output power

“…For the non-trivial case of the Tm:Y2O3 waveguide laser reported in 12 we have neglected the contribution of cross relaxation which makes this FOM a slight over-estimate. Figure 1 presents the FOM for some of the work referenced in section 1.…”

“…Shortly after this was the first report of laser action in a non-oxide crystal grown by pulsed laser deposition 11 , but this Cr 2+ :ZnSe laser unfortunately would not run CW and the authors were unable to quantify the output power from it. Inspired by the results from Prof. Hubers group we started investigating cubic sesquioxide crystal growth, initially reporting 35 mW from Tm:Y2O3 12 , and 83 mW from Yb:Y2O3 13 , before reaching watt level output from Yb:Y2O3 14 . Since this watt level Yb:Y2O3 result we have increased the output powers achievable from PLD waveguide lasers significantly, producing 7.4 W from a Yb:Lu2O3 waveguide laser 15 , and more recently an 11.5 W Yb:YAG laser 16 .…”