Title :
End-pumped double-clad waveguide laser
Author :
Mackenzie, J.I. ; Li, C. ; Shepherd, D.P. ; Meissner, H.E.
Author_Institution :
Optoelectron. Res. Centre, Southampton Univ., UK
Abstract :
Summary form only given. The use of a double-clad guiding structure to allow efficient pumping by non-diffraction-limited high-power diodes, and yet still obtain diffraction-limited laser output, has been extensively studied in optical fibres. Recently, a one-dimensional version of this technique has been applied to planar waveguides, allowing the development of very compact, proximity-coupled, diode-bar side-pumped waveguide lasers. CW powers of >10 W have been obtained in this way but, with the use of a monolithic plane/plane cavity, the output is still highly non-diffraction-limited in the non-guided direction. We investigate the use of similar double-clad structures end-pumped by a 4 W broad-stripe diode obtaining >1 W in a beam with measured M/sup 2/ values of 1.0 by 1.8.
Keywords :
claddings; laser beams; laser cavity resonators; optical planar waveguides; optical pumping; solid lasers; waveguide lasers; 10 W; 4 W; CW powers; M/sup 2/ values; broad-stripe diode; diffraction-limited laser output; double-clad guiding structure; double-clad structures; efficient pumping; end-pumped double-clad waveguide laser; end-pumped structures; monolithic plane/plane cavity; nondiffraction-limited high-power diodes; nonguided direction; optical fibres; planar waveguides; proximity-coupled diode-bar side-pumped waveguide laser; Diodes; Fiber lasers; Laser excitation; Optical diffraction; Optical fibers; Optical planar waveguides; Optical waveguides; Planar waveguides; Pump lasers; Waveguide lasers;
Conference_Titel :
Lasers and Electro-Optics, 2001. CLEO '01. Technical Digest. Summaries of papers presented at the Conference on
Conference_Location :
Baltimore, MD, USA
Print_ISBN :
1-55752-662-1
DOI :
10.1109/CLEO.2001.948191
