Abstract

The research and development of diode pumped solid state lasers is stimulated by rational prospect for achieving significantly higher laser performance in one or more key characteristics (e.g., operating wavelength, tunability, efficiency, beam quality, and average power) based on major innovations in laser materials as well as devices geometries. Especially, the rare earth planar lasers and amplifiers have recently received growing attention. The claims made on their behalf are that they provide relatively easily produced sources and amplifiers operating at wavelengths that to both current and projected future requirements, in fields such as telecommunications, optical data processing, sensing and spectroscopy. Moreover, the waveguide lasers offer several advantages giving rise to low threshold, high slope efficiency and stability.

© 1996 IEEE