Experimental observation and numerical simulation of guided modes in Nd:YLiF₄ channel waveguides produced by carbon ion implantation

Abstract We report on, to our knowledge the first time, the channel waveguide formation in Nd:YLiF₄ laser crystal produced by 6 MeV carbon ion implantation. The guided modes are observed by using an end‐face arrangement. We construct the two‐dimensional (2D) refractive index profile of the channel waveguide cross section, which is based on the related planar waveguide index distribution as well as the rectangular shape of the waveguide cross sections. The modal intensity distribution is numerically calculated by using the beam propagation method according to the reconstructed index profile, which shows a reasonable agreement with the experimental result. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)