Y-branch waveguide glass laser and amplifier.

Area of Science:

• Optoelectronics
• Materials Science
• Laser Physics

Background:

• Integrated optical devices offer miniaturization and enhanced functionality.
• Neodymium-doped waveguide lasers are crucial for various photonic applications.
• Y-branch structures are essential for beam splitting and combining in integrated optics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and characterize a Y-branch channel waveguide laser.
• To investigate the laser performance and amplification capabilities.
• To assess the feasibility of overcoming Y-branch splitting losses in integrated lasers.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a Y-branch channel waveguide laser using electric-field-assisted ion exchange in Nd-doped silicate glass.
• Optical pumping with a continuous-wave Ti:sapphire laser.
• Characterization of laser efficiency, threshold, and small-signal gain.

Main Results:

• The Y-branch waveguide laser operated efficiently near 1057 nm.
• A slope efficiency of 5.1% was achieved with a 4% output coupler.
• The device showed a low threshold of 26 mW absorbed pump power and a small-signal gain of 0.034 dB/mW.

Conclusions:

• Electric-field-assisted ion exchange is a viable method for fabricating Y-branch waveguide lasers.
• The demonstrated device overcomes the inherent 3-dB splitting loss of the Y-branch structure.
• This work contributes to the development of compact and efficient integrated photonic devices.