Laser operation of a Tm:Y_2O_3 planar waveguide

Abstract

We demonstrate the first Tm-doped yttria planar waveguide laser to our knowledge, grown by pulsed laser deposition. A maximum output power of 35 mW at 1.95 μm with 9% slope efficiency was achieved from a 12 μm-thick film grown on a Y(3)Al(5)O(12) substrate.