Title :
Compact solid-state waveguide lasers
Author :
Callicoatt, Berton E. ; Schlager, John B. ; Hickernell, Robert K. ; Mirin, Richard P. ; Sanford, Norman A.
Abstract :
Glass waveguide lasers will fill an important niche as optical sources in communication, RF photonics, and optical metrology. This is primarily because waveguide lasers benefit from compact size, low noise, relatively high output powers, long upper-state lifetimes, and simple integration with optical-fiber-based systems. Although we do not expect waveguide lasers and amplifiers to ever supplant fiber and semiconductor lasers and amplifiers in every possible communications application, waveguide lasers have a number of advantages over traditional lasers for these uses. Single-frequency waveguide lasers provide narrow linewidth and high output power in a compact, monolithic package. The narrow linewidth is an important advantage over standard semiconductor lasers, and the compact size makes single-frequency waveguide lasers better suited than fiber lasers or extended-cavity semiconductor lasers for many applications.
Keywords :
laser noise; microwave photonics; optical transmitters; waveguide lasers; RF photonics; communication; linewidth; noise; optical metrology; optical sources; output power; output powers; single-frequency lasers; solid-state waveguide lasers; upper-state lifetimes; Fiber lasers; Laser noise; Optical noise; Optical waveguides; Semiconductor lasers; Semiconductor optical amplifiers; Semiconductor waveguides; Solid lasers; Solid state circuits; Waveguide lasers;
Journal_Title :
Circuits and Devices Magazine, IEEE
DOI :
10.1109/MCD.2003.1236786