The present invention concerns a waveguide amplifier and a waveguide amplifier device comprising it. In addition, the invention concerns a method for producing such waveguide amplifier. The invention especially relates to erbium doped waveguide amplifiers having a controlled doping concentration.

This disclosure provides planar waveguides with enhanced support and/or cooling. One or more endcaps could be disposed between coating/cladding layers at one or more ends of a core region, where the core region is doped with at least one active ion species and each endcap is not doped with any active ion species that creates substantial absorption at pump and signal wavelengths. A core region could include at least one crystal or crystalline material, and at least one cladding layer could include at least one glass. Different types of coolers could be disposed on or adjacent to different coating/cladding layers. Side claddings could be disposed on opposite sides of a planar waveguide, where the opposite sides represent longer sides of the waveguide. Endcaps and one or more coolers could be sealed to a housing, and coolant can flow through a substantially linear passageway along a length of the waveguide. One side of a planar waveguide could be uncooled.

An optical resonator device, which can be implemented in a Brillouin laser, comprises a first waveguide ring resonator having a first diameter, and one or more second waveguide ring resonators adjacent to the first waveguide ring resonator. The one or more second waveguide ring resonators each have a second diameter that is less than the first diameter. The one or more second waveguide ring resonators optically communicate with the first waveguide ring resonator, such that an optical signal in the first waveguide ring resonator optically couples into the one or more second waveguide ring resonators. The one or more second waveguide ring resonators is configured such that when the optical signal resonates within the first waveguide ring resonator and the one or more second waveguide ring resonators, the optical signal within the first waveguide ring resonator is suppressed.

An optical resonator device, which can be implemented in a Brillouin laser, comprises a first waveguide ring resonator having a first diameter, and one or more second waveguide ring resonators adjacent to the first waveguide ring resonator. The one or more second waveguide ring resonators each have a second diameter that is less than the first diameter. The one or more second waveguide ring resonators optically communicate with the first waveguide ring resonator, such that an optical signal in the first waveguide ring resonator optically couples into the one or more second waveguide ring resonators. The one or more second waveguide ring resonators is configured such that when the optical signal resonates within the first waveguide ring resonator and the one or more second waveguide ring resonators, the optical signal within the first waveguide ring resonator is suppressed.

A planar wave guide (PWG) having a first end for coupling to a light pump and a second end opposite to the first end and including a first cladding layer; a second cladding layer; and a uniformly doped core layer between the first cladding layer and the second cladding layer, wherein the core layer is tapered having a smaller thickness at the first end and a larger thickness at the second end, and wherein a ratio of the core thickness to thickness of the cladding layers is smaller at the first end and larger at the second end.

Laser waveguides, methods and systems for forming a laser waveguide are provided. The waveguide includes an inner cladding layer surrounding a central axis and a glass core surrounding and located outside of the inner cladding layer. The glass core includes a laser-active material. The waveguide includes an outer cladding layer surrounding and located outside of the glass core. The inner cladding, outer cladding and/or core may surround a hollow central channel or bore and may be annular in shape.

A tunable laser has a first mirror, a second mirror, a gain medium, and a directional coupler. The first mirror and the second mirror form an optical resonator. The gain medium and the directional coupler are, at least partially, in an optical path of the optical resonator. The first mirror and the second mirror comprise binary super gratings. Both the first mirror and the second mirror have high reflectivity. The directional coupler provides an output coupler for the tunable laser.

A tunable laser has a first mirror, a second mirror, a gain medium, and a directional coupler. The first mirror and the second mirror form an optical resonator. The gain medium and the directional coupler are, at least partially, in an optical path of the optical resonator. The first mirror and the second mirror comprise binary super gratings. Both the first mirror and the second mirror have high reflectivity. The directional coupler provides an output coupler for the tunable laser.

A device includes: at least one laser element with light emitting points to output fundamental waves in a one-dimensional array; a wavelength converting element to carry out wavelength conversion of the incident fundamental waves, and to output wavelength converted light rays; and an output mirror to reflect the fundamental waves, and to transmit the wavelength converted light rays resulting from the wavelength conversion by the wavelength converting element. The wavelength converting element is disposed between the laser element and the output mirror, and the distance between the position of a waist of the fundamental waves output from the laser element and the output mirror is set in accordance with a Talbot condition under which the adjacent light emitting points cause phase synchronization with each other.

A distributed feedback laser, including: an output end including an active region including a grating including a λ/4 phase-shift region; and a non-output end including a reflecting region including a grating with uniform period. The length of the active region is smaller than or equal to 200 μm. The end facet of the output end of the laser is coated with an anti-reflection film.