Crystalline Pr:SrAl12O19 waveguide laser in the visible spectral region

We fabricated waveguides in Pr:SrAl12O19 crystals by direct femtosecond laser writing. The propagation losses were calculated to be as low as 0.16 dB=cm at a wavelength of 633nm. Laser oscillation in a diode-pumped waveguide at a wavelength of 643.5 nm was realized. The output power of the waveguide laser was 28.1 mW at a slope efficiency of 8%. (C) 2011 Optical Society of America