Fs-laser-written erbium-doped double tungstate waveguide laser

Abstract

We report on the first erbium (Er³⁺) doped double tungstate waveguide laser. As a gain material, we studied a monoclinic Er³⁺:KLu(WO₄)₂ crystal. A depressed-index buried channel waveguide formed by a 60 µm-diameter circular cladding was fabricated by 3D femtosecond direct laser writing. The waveguide was characterized by confocal laser microscopy, µ-Raman and µ-luminescence mapping, confirming that the crystallinity of the core is preserved. The waveguide laser, diode pumped at 981 nm, generated 8.9 mW at 1533.6 nm with a slope efficiency of 20.9% in the continuous-wave regime. The laser polarization was linear (E || N_m). The laser threshold was at 93 mW of absorbed pump power.