Passively Q-switched high-repetition-rate Yb:LuGG channel waveguide laser

[EN]We report on a compact, passively Q-switched waveguide laser fabricated via femtosecond direct laser writing (fs-DLW) in an Yb:LuGG crystal. Prior to Q-switching experiments, continuous-wave operation was systematically characterized under various cavity configurations, achieving a maximum outpu...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Kim, Deok Woo, Lim, Seong-Eun, Park, Ji-Hoon, Mateos, Xavier, Chen, Weidong, Romero Vázquez, Carolina, Vázquez de Aldana, Javier R., Rotermund, Fabian
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2025
Country:España
Institution:Universidad de Salamanca (USAL)
Repository:GREDOS. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Salamanca
OAI Identifier:oai:gredos.usal.es:10366/168577
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10366/168577
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Fibre Lasers
High-Field Lasers
Laser
Laser Technology
Solid-State Lasers
Ultrafast Lasers
Description
Summary:[EN]We report on a compact, passively Q-switched waveguide laser fabricated via femtosecond direct laser writing (fs-DLW) in an Yb:LuGG crystal. Prior to Q-switching experiments, continuous-wave operation was systematically characterized under various cavity configurations, achieving a maximum output power of 678 mW and a slope efficiency of 53.6% using a 70% output coupler. Passive Q-switching was implemented by incorporating single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) as a saturable absorber, enabling stable laser operation over several hours. The 7.39-mm-long waveguide laser operated near 1030 nm, and its Q-switched performance was investigated using three output couplers with different transmissions. The best performance was obtained with a 50% output coupler, yielding pulses as short as 35 ns, a maximum output power of 478 mW, and a highest repetition rate of 2.51 MHz. These results demonstrate the excellent compatibility between fs-DLW-fabricated Yb:LuGG waveguides and SWCNT-based saturable absorbers, offering a promising route toward robust and highly efficient compact pulsed laser sources.