Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 10, 2026
10:17
20 mJ, 1 ps Yb:YAG Thin-disk Regenerative Amplifier
Published on: July 12, 2017
Laser operation of a Tm:Y2O3 planar waveguide
Jakub W Szela1, Katherine A Sloyan, Tina L Parsonage
1Optoelectronics Research Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.
Optics Express
|June 6, 2013
Summary
Researchers developed the first thulium-doped yttria planar waveguide laser using pulsed laser deposition. This novel laser achieved 35 mW output power at 1.95 μm, demonstrating efficient performance for infrared applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Optoelectronics
- Laser Physics
Background:
- Planar waveguide lasers offer miniaturization and high power density.
- Thulium (Tm)-doped materials are crucial for generating light in the 2-micron wavelength range, important for various applications.
- Pulsed laser deposition (PLD) is a versatile technique for thin-film fabrication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the first thulium-doped yttria planar waveguide laser.
- To investigate the performance characteristics of such a laser fabricated using pulsed laser deposition.
- To achieve efficient laser output at approximately 2 μm.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a thulium-doped yttria thin film on a Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (YAG) substrate using pulsed laser deposition.
- Characterization of the film's structural and optical properties.
- Construction and testing of a planar waveguide laser device.
Main Results:
- Successful fabrication of a Tm-doped yttria planar waveguide.
- Achieved a maximum output power of 35 mW at a wavelength of 1.95 μm.
- Observed a slope efficiency of 9% from the 12 μm-thick film.
Conclusions:
- The study successfully demonstrated the first Tm-doped yttria planar waveguide laser.
- The results indicate the potential of PLD-grown Tm:Y2O3 films for efficient laser applications in the 2 μm region.
- This work paves the way for developing compact and efficient infrared waveguide lasers.
