Numerical study of high-index-contrast Er:LiNbO3 photonic wire lasers optically pumped at 980 nm

For the first time [to our best knowledge] a high-index-contrast z-cut Er:LiNbO(3) photonic wire waveguide laser, optically pumped at 980 nm wavelength, is designed for continuous-wave operation. Waveguide modes and laser characteristics are numerically computed using a developed full vectorial finite-element method based tool. In order to maximize the output power of the laser, the active cavity length and output mirror's reflectivity have been optimized, considering different pump power and waveguide background losses. Efficient laser emission is theoretically predicted at 1531 nm wavelength for the fundamental TE mode and a value of threshold pump power as low as 0.2 mW has been computed.