Monolithic 100 mW Yb waveguide laser fabricated using the femtosecond-laser direct-write technique

A femtosecond-laser-written monolithic waveguide laser (WGL) oscillator based on a distributed-feedback architecture and fabricated in ytterbium-doped phosphate glass is reported. The device lased at 1033 nm with an output power of 102 mW and a bandwidth of less than 2 pm when bidirectionally pumped at 976 nm. The WGL device was stable and operated for 50 h without degradation. This demonstration of a high-performance WGL opens the possibility for creating a variety of narrow-linewidth laser designs in bulk glasses.