Towards new lasers in Ti : Er : LiNbO3 waveguides: a study of the excited Er3+ states

Detailed excited state absorption measurements under pumping at 980 nm and 1.5 mu m together with conventional absorption and emission spectroscopy is employed to investigate optical transitions of Er3+ in Ti:LiNbO3 channel-w aveguides, The experimental data were evaluated using the Judd-Ofelt method giving parameters close to those in the bulk. The good agreement between t heoretical prediction and measurements allows us to calculate cross section , lifetimes, and branching ratios. Based on these results we developed and tested a model which is able to predict the conditions for which laser oper ation at 550 nm and 2.7 mu m will be possible under 980 nm pumping.