Title :
Single-mode Nd/sup 3+/-doped graded-index polymer waveguide amplifier
Author :
Chen, Ray T. ; Lee, Maggie ; Natarajan, Srikanth ; Lin, Chuan ; Ho, Z.Z. ; Robinson, Dan
Author_Institution :
Microelectron. Res. Center, Texas Univ., Austin, TX, USA
Abstract :
The first graded index (GRIN) polymer waveguide amplifier working at 1.06 mu m wavelength has been realized, using a Nd/sup 3+/: photolime gel material combination. Throughput intensity of 3.8 mW at 1.06 mu m, corresponding to 8.5 dB gain, was observed when employing a 40 mW pumping laser beam operating at 790 nm. The gain medium is a 2.2 cm waveguide active region with Nd/sup 3+/ concentration of 1.03*10/sup 20//cm/sup 3/. The GRIN characteristic of the photolime gel thin film provides a universal means for implementing polymer-based photonic integrated circuits (PICs) on any substrate of interest.<>
Keywords :
gels; gradient index optics; integrated optics; laser modes; neodymium; optical polymers; optical waveguides; solid lasers; 1.06 micron; 2.2 cm; 3.8 mW; 40 mW; 790 nm; 8.5 dB; GRIN characteristic; gain; graded index polymer waveguide amplifier; photolime gel material; photolime gel thin film; photonic integrated circuits; pumping laser beam; single-mode Nd/sup 3+/-doped graded-index polymer; substrate; throughput intensity; waveguide active region; Gain; Laser beams; Laser excitation; Neodymium; Optical materials; Polymer films; Polymer gels; Pump lasers; Throughput; Waveguide lasers;
Journal_Title :
Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE
