Planar waveguide solid-state lasers

Summary form only given. The planar waveguide geometry for solid-state lasers provides a range of capabilities intermediate between conventional rod and slab lasers with free-space resonators on the one hand and single mode fibre lasers on the other. The geometry is well matched to the natural properties of laser diode bars for pumping. Currently, the most successful active planar waveguides for high average power operation are produced by the diffusion bonding process.