Abstract

When a spatially and spectrally coherent signal is injected into a 100-µm wide traveling wave amplifier, the signal is amplified by up to 18 dB. Optical power in excess of 100 mW can be obtained while maintaining nearly diffraction-limited performance. A detailed examination of the far field of the amplifier allows extraction of quantitative information regarding the gain and thermal distributions in the amplifier. An examination of the coherent optical power-delivering capabilities of these devices is presented.

© 1988 Optical Society of America