Er‐diffused Ti:LiNbO3 waveguide laser of 1563 and 1576 nm emission wavelengths

The first continuous wave (cw) and pulsed mode operation of an Er‐diffused Ti:LiNbO3 monomode waveguide laser at 1563 nm (E⊥ c) and 1576 nm (E∥ c) wavelengths is reported. A tunable Tl:KCl color center laser was used as a pump source. With π‐polarized (Ep∥ c) pump radiation of 1479 nm wavelength an oscillation threshold of 13 mW coupled pump power was achieved for the 1576 nm emission line. Above 25 mW pump power additional lasing at 1563 nm wavelength was observed. σ‐polarized (Ep⊥ c) pumping led to a single line emission at 1563 nm throughout with the highest cw output power of 3 mW and a slope efficiency of 3%. Time averaged emission linewidths of about 0.6 nm were measured for both wavelengths at about two times the threshold pump power level. With pulsed excitation of about 1 W coupled peak power output pulses of up to 200 mW peak power were measured.