Er-indiffused Ti:LiNbO 3 channel waveguideoptical amplifiers pumped at 980 nm

Er-indiffused Ti:LiNbO3 optical channel waveguide amplifiers pumped at 980 nm are reported for the first time. The authors report the largest differential gain and pump efficiency to date. At a coupled pump power of 80 mW, the amplifiers show a steady-state small signal gain of 1.6 dB/cm over a 1.7 cm long waveguide. Larger gain coefficients (~3 dB/cm) were observed before photorefractive damage set in.