Li H, Wang Z, Wang L, Tan Y, Chen F. Optically pumped Milliwatt Whispering-Gallery microcavity laser.
LIGHT, SCIENCE & APPLICATIONS 2023;
12:223. [PMID:
37696802 PMCID:
PMC10495457 DOI:
10.1038/s41377-023-01264-6]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Whispering-gallery-mode microcavity lasers possess remarkable characteristics such as high Q factors and compact geometries, making them an essential element in the evolution of microlasers. However, solid-state whispering-gallery-mode lasers have previously suffered from low output power and limited optical conversion efficiency, hindering their applications. Here, we present the achievement of milliwatt laser emissions at a wavelength of 1.06 µm from a solid-state whispering-gallery-mode laser. To accomplish this, we construct a whispering-gallery-mode microcavity (with a diameter of 30 µm) using a crystalline Nd: YAG thin film obtained through carbon-implantation enhanced etching of a Nd: YAG crystal. This microcavity laser demonstrates a maximum output power of 1.12 mW and an optical conversion efficiency of 12.4%. Moreover, our unique eccentric microcavity design enables efficient coupling of free-space pump light, facilitating integration with a waveguide. This integration allowed for single-wavelength laser emission from the waveguide, achieving an output power of 0.5 mW and an optical conversion efficiency of 6.18%. Our work opens up new possibilities for advancing solid-state whispering-gallery-mode lasers, providing a viable option for compact photonic sources.
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