Optically pumped Milliwatt Whispering-Gallery microcavity laser

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.

Huiqi Li, Zhaocong Wang, Lei Wang, Yang Tan, Feng Chen