Ion-exchanged waveguide lasers in Er3+/Yb3+ codoped silicate glass

• Published in: Applied optics (2004) 1999-11, Vol.38 (33), p.6879-6886
• Main Authors: Peters, P M, Funk, D S, Peskin, A P, Veasey, D L, Sanford, N A, Houde-Walter, S N, Hayden, J S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1559-128X
• DOI: 10.1364/AO.38.006879

We investigated an Er(3+)/Yb(3+) codoped silicate glass as a host material for waveguide lasers operating near 1.5 microm. Spectroscopic properties of the glass are reported. Waveguide lasers were fabricated by K(+)-ion exchange from a nitrate melt. The waveguides support a single transverse mode at 1.5 microm. An investigation of the laser performance as a function of the Yb:Er ratio was performed, indicating an optimal ratio of approximately 5:1. Slope efficiencies of as great as 6.5% and output powers as high as 19.6 mW at 1.54 microm were realized. The experimental results are compared with a waveguide laser model that is used to extract the Er(3+) upconversion coefficients and the Yb(3+)-Er(3+) cross-relaxation coefficients. The results indicate the possibility of obtaining high-performance waveguide lasers from a durable silicate host glass.