Abstract

Femtosecond lasers are widely used for three-dimensional volume micro-structuring of dielectric materials. The fabrication of buried channel waveguides inside these materials is interesting especially for the production of passive and active optical devices. Waveguide lasers in glass and crystals were demonstrated in the past [1-4]. The advantages of dielectric waveguide lasers are high optical gain, high damage threshold, and a good overlap between pump mode and laser mode. Neodymium-doped YAG with its high emission cross-section, long fluorescence lifetime, good thermal conductivity, and high mechanical stability is a well suited material for waveguide lasers.

© 2009 IEEE