Multi-watt, high efficiency, diffraction-limited Nd:YAG planar waveguide laser

Author

Mackenzie, Jacob I. ; Li, Cheng ; Shepherd, David P.

Author_Institution

Optoelectronics Res. Centre, Univ. of Southampton, UK

Volume

39

Issue

3

fYear

2003

fDate

3/1/2003 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

493

Lastpage

500

Abstract

An efficient, longitudinally diode-pumped, diffraction-limited, Nd:YAG double-clad planar waveguide laser was operated on four transitions of the Nd³⁺ ion. Optimized output powers of 4.3, 3.5, and 2.7 W were obtained for absorbed pump powers of ∼7 W, for the transitions at the lasing wavelengths of 1.064 μm, 946 nm, and 1.3 μm, respectively. Operation of the weak ⁴F₃2/→⁴I₅2/ transition, lasing at 1.833 μm, was demonstrated at an absorbed pump power threshold of 300 mW and an output power of 400 mW, with a nonoptimized output coupling. Diffraction-limited performance was obtained in both the guided and nonguided axes.

Keywords

laser transitions; neodymium; optical planar waveguides; optical pumping; solid lasers; waveguide lasers; 1.064 micron; 1.3 micron; 1.833 micron; 2.7 W; 3.5 W; 4.3 W; 400 mW; 7 W; 946 nm; Nd:YAG planar waveguide laser; YAG:Nd; YAl5O12:Nd; absorbed pump power threshold; diffraction-limited; diffraction-limited performance; double-clad planar waveguide laser; guided axes; laser transitions; lasing wavelengths; longitudinally diode-pumped; nonguided axes; nonoptimized output coupling; optimized output powers; output power; Diffraction; Geometrical optics; Laser excitation; Laser modes; Laser transitions; Optical resonators; Optical waveguides; Planar waveguides; Pump lasers; Waveguide lasers;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9197

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/JQE.2002.808158

Filename

1181530