CMOS-compatible high index contrast ytterbium-doped tantalum pentoxide rib waveguide lasers

Abstract

Waveguide based solid-state lasers are key components in the quest to realise a compact, robust fully integrated optical circuit with advanced functionality including pulsed operation. Ta₂O₅ has been a promising host material for the realization of an integrated rare-earth doped waveguide laser as it offers many important attributes such as good ability to host rare-earth ions, a high refractive index (n ~ 2.124 at λ ~ 980 nm) and a large third order nonlinearity. Here, we present an integrated rib waveguide laser in Yb:Ta₂O₅ with quantification of the laser slope efficiency and threshold in respect to absorbed pump power as well as presenting its lasing spectrum. Symmetrical rib waveguides with a thickness of 1 µm defined by a shallow etch of 150 nm were fabricated in Yb:Ta₂O₅ and encapsulated in silica cladding. These waveguides were designed for single mode operation for wavelengths ranging from 970 nm to 1100 nm, covering typical operational regions of Yb-doped materials. The fabrication process used conventional CMOS technologies which have been previously reported, where spectroscopic characterisation of similar Yb-doped waveguides was included.

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Identifiers

ORCID for G.S. Murugan: orcid.org/0000-0002-2733-3273

ORCID for V. Apostolopoulos: orcid.org/0000-0003-3733-2191

ORCID for J.S. Wilkinson: orcid.org/0000-0003-4712-1697

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