Spectroscopy of ytterbium-doped tantalum pentoxide rib waveguides on silicon

The design, fabrication and spectroscopic characterization of ytterbium-doped Ta2O5 rib waveguide are described. The waveguides are fabricated on silicon substrates and operate in a single mode at wavelengths above 970 nm. The peak absorption cross-section was measured to be 2.75 × 10 cm at 975 nm. The emission spectrum was found to have a broad fluorescence spanning from 990 nm to 1090 nm with the fluorescence emission peak occurring at a wavelength of 976 nm. The excited-state life time was measured to be approximately 260 μs. ©2014 Optical Society of America OCIS codes: (130.0130) Integrated optics; (160.3130) Integrated optics materials; (230.7380) Waveguides, channeled; (300.6360) Spectroscopy, laser; (140.3615) Lasers, ytterbium. References and links 1. S. Ohara and Y. Kuroiwa, “Highly ytterbium-doped bismuth-oxide-based fiber,” Opt. Express 17(16), 14104– 14108 (2009). 2. N. V. Kuleshov, A. A. Lagatsky, A. V. Podlipensky, V. P. Mikhailov, and G. 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