Parametric fluorescence in low-loss oxidized aluminum gallium arsenide hete
rostructure waveguides is quantitatively analyzed. A parametric fluorescenc
e efficiency as high as 6x10(-7) W/W has been measured in a 3.2-mm-long wav
eguide. This corresponds to a normalized conversion efficiency, scaled with
the waveguide length, of about 1000% cm(-2) W-1, eight times higher than w
ith LiNbO3 waveguides. This opens the perspective of a microoptical paramet
ric oscillation threshold below 100 mW. (C) 2001 American Institute of Phys
ics.