Abstract

We report the room-temperature operation of an Yb:GGG buried channel waveguide laser prepared on an yttrium-substituted GGG substrate (YOG). Recently, much attention has been focused on Yb-doped solid-state lasers.^1–6 This is due both to the favorable functions of Yb³⁺ ions in many kinds of laser host materials and to the recent advances in InGaAs strained quantum well laser-diode-pumping sources. The lasing wavelength of Yb³⁺ in a garnet host is around 1.03 μm, which is close to the absorption center of Pr³⁺ ions in fluoride fiber (1.017 μm).⁷ A waveguide laser is suitable for optical integration because it can be easily coupled to a fiber or other waveguide components.

© 1996 Optical Society of America