Polarisation-independent Er:Ti:LiNbO/sub 3/ waveguide amplifier pumped by a laser diode at 980 nm

A polarisation-independent integrated X-cut Z-propagating Er-doped Ti:LiNbO3 waveguide amplifier, pumped by a 980 nm laser diode, is reported for the first time. An amplifying gain of 0.95 dB/cm was achieved for only 40 mW of coupled pump power. The cross-section for α-polarisation and the losses are measured directly within the waveguide to check the accordance of the experimental amplification gain with the theoretical models published previously.