Continuous-wave laser operation at 1.3 μm in Nd3+-doped Zn:LiNbO3 channel waveguides

This work reports continuous laser action around 1.3 mum at room temperature in LiNbO3:Nd3+ channel waveguides, fabricated by the two-steps Zn diffusion technique. A threshold of 64 mW and a slope efficiency of around 0.5% were obtained in an 8 mum wide channel guide. These results have been compared with laser oscillation around 1.08 mum in LiNbO3:Nd3+ waveguides in terms of the launched pump powers, taking into account the emission cross section values of the F-4(3/2)-->I-4(13/2) and F-4(3/2)-->I-4(11/2) transitions. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.