Open AccessCompact integrated actively Q-switched waveguide laser
Author(s) -
Christoph Wieschendorf,
Josiah Firth,
Leonardo Silvestri,
Simon Gross,
François Ladouceur,
Michael J. Withford,
David J. Spence,
Alexander Fuerbach
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.25.001692
Subject(s) - optics , laser , materials science , waveguide , q switching , output coupler , femtosecond , lithium niobate , optoelectronics , physics
A miniaturized deformed helix ferroelectric liquid crystal transducer cell was used in combination with a femtosecond laser inscribed active waveguide to realize a compact actively Q-switched laser source. The liquid crystal cell was controlled by a low-voltage frequency generator and laser pulse durations below 40 ns were demonstrated at repetition rates ranging from 0.1 kHz to 20 kHz and a maximum slope efficiency of up to 22%. This novel, integrated and low-cost laser source is a promising tool for a broad range of applications such as trace gas sensing, LIDAR, and nonlinear optics. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of an actively Q-switched glass waveguide laser that has a user-variable repetition rate and can be fully integrated.