Z-propagating waveguide lasers in rare-earth-doped Ti:LiNbO3

Abstract

A means of reproducibly fabricating stable cw lasers in rare-earth-doped Ti:LiNbO3 has been demonstrated through judicious choice of waveguide orientation. Z-propagating waveguides have been fabricated in Nd- and Er-diffused Ti:LiNbO3 and room-temperature laser operation with greatly reduced photorefractive instability has been obtained. The reduced photorefractive damage susceptibility in this waveguide configuration has led to the realization of a 980 nm pumped laser in Er:Ti:LiNbO3, with a threshold of 10.5 mW of absorbed pump power and a slope efficiency of 8.5%.