Abstract

Following the recent success in fabricating laser devices in rare-earth-doped lithium niobate,¹ it appeared interesting to develop similar elements in rare-earth -doped lithium tantalate in view of this latter material's reputation for having a considerably higher optical damage threshold. Unfortunately, first attempt,² using proton exchanged waveguides on Nd:LiTaO₃ was not very successful due to a reduction of the ⁴F_3/2 excited state lifetime of Nd³⁺. In order to understand this phenomena and improve the laser performance, we monitored the lifetime as a function of the proton concentration, which was varied by successive annealing.

© 1994 IEEE