Nd:MgO:LiNbO/sub 3/ channel waveguide laser devices

A report is presented on the fabrication and efficient CW operation at 1.085 mu m of Nd:MgO:LiNbO/sub 3/ proton-exchanged channel waveguide lasers and amplifiers optically pumped at 0.814 mu m. Thresholds as low as 1.5 mW and slope efficiencies up to 34% were achieved in monolithic miniature laser devices. Up to 14 mW of output power could be achieved without observation of photorefractive damage. Diode laser pumping was also demonstrated. For the amplifier a small-signal gain of 7.5 dB was achieved for 22 mW of coupled pump power. Experimental results were analyzed with the use of a mode overlap formalism and a value of 0.93 was found for the pump quantum efficiency. Absorption spectra, fluorescence spectra, and lifetime measurements are also reported for the bulk and waveguide material.<
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