Two-photon-pumped distributed feedback zirconia waveguide lasers

Distributed feedback laser action of narrow line-width output was demonstrated in zirconia waveguides doped with trans-4-[p-(N-hydroxyethyl-N-methylamino) styryl]-N-methylpyridinium p-toluene sulfonate, a compound of strong two-photon up-converted emission near 620 nm. Single-beam pumping at 1.06 μm led to intense up-converted amplified spontaneous emission at 620 nm. Transient gratings for coherent scattering were generated in the waveguides by crossing two 1.06-μm beams. Narrow line-width distributed feedback laser emission was observed at 627 nm.