Nd3+ doped Sc2O3 waveguiding film produced by pulsed laser deposition

We report here for the first time on growth and characterization of a neodymium (Nd3+) doped scandium oxide (Sc2O3) waveguiding film. The pulsed laser deposition technique (PLD) was used to deposit a 3 μm thick film on a sapphire (α-Al2O3) substrate, which provides almost lattice matched growth conditions. A 1.5 μm thick Al2O3 superstrate was deposited on top of the scandia film. Crystalline structure of the film was investigated by X-ray diffraction. The film exhibits high crystalline quality and has been proved to be highly textured in 〈1 1 1〉 direction. An ω-scan has been performed and the deviation in crystallites orientation has been determined to be 1.07°. Emission and excitation spectra of the Nd3+ dopant in the film are very similar to those in the scandia bulk crystal. The spectral lines exhibit no broadening and high emission cross-sections are observed. The lifetime of metastable 4F3/2-multiplet of Nd3+ has been measured to be 180 μs. Waveguiding of the Ti:Sapphire laser emission in the Nd:Sc2O3 film has been demonstrated and propagation losses have been estimated.