Characterisation and laser performance of a Yb:LuAG double-clad planar waveguide grown by pulsed laser deposition

Abstract

We report on the fabrication of a crystalline multi-layer lutetium aluminium garnet planar waveguide, with a ytterbium-doped core, via hetero-epitaxial pulsed laser deposition on an undoped yttrium aluminium garnet substrate. Physical and optical characterization of the device revealed good crystallinity of the grown films and mode propagation investigations confirmed waveguiding properties. The measured fluorescence lifetime and calculated absorption and stimulated emission cross section spectra are found to be comparable with those reported for Yb:LuAG crystals grown by traditional methods. When end-pumped by a diode-laser bar, the crystalline double-clad Yb:LuAG planar waveguide lased using a quasi-monolithic cavity configuration. An output power of > 3 W with a 20% slope efficiency was obtained, limited by a waveguide propagation loss of 1.2 dB cm−1. This first demonstration of a multi-layer LuAG double-clad planar waveguide laser shows great potential for realising compact high-power waveguide lasers and amplifiers.