Continuous-wave Nd-doped polymer lasers

Continuous-wave laser operation at 1060: 2 nm was demonstrated in polymer channel waveguides doped with a Nd complex above an absorbed pump threshold of 50 mW. The highest slope efficiency of 2.15% was obtained with 5% outcoupling, resulting in a maximum output power of 0: 98 mW. Lasing was also achieved on the quasi-three-level 878 nm transition above a threshold of 74: 5 mW. A slope efficiency of 0.35% and an output power of 190 mu m were obtained with 2.2% outcoupling. Long-term, stable cw laser operation over at least 2 h was demonstrated, indicating the durability of the polymer gain medium. (C) 2010 Optical Society of America