Ion-exchanged waveguide lasers in Er3+/Yb3+ codoped silicate glass

We investigated an Er3+/Yb3+ codoped silicate glass as a host material for waveguide lasers operating near 1.5 mu m. Spectroscopic properties of the g lass are reported. Waveguide lasers were fabricated by K+-ion exchange from a nitrate melt. The waveguides support a single transverse mode at 1.5 mu m An investigation of the laser performance asa function of the Yb:Er ratio was performed, indicating an optimal ratio of approximately 5:1. Slope eff iciencies of as great as 6.5% and output powers as high as 19.6 mW at 1.54 mu m were realized. The experimental results are compared with a waveguide laser model that is used to extract the Er3+ upconversion coefficients and the Yb3+-Er3+ cross-relaxation coefficients. The results indicate the possi bility of obtaining high-performance waveguide lasers from a durable silica te host glass. OCIS codes: 140.3500, 130.2790, 130.3120, 160.2750, 160.5690 .