An efficient, diode-pumped, 2 μm Tm:YAG waveguide laser

Abstract We report on 2 μm laser operation of a diode-pumped Tm-doped YAG planar waveguide. The fabrication and characterisation of such layers grown by liquid phase epitaxy are described. The diode-pumped laser results (≤40 mW threshold, ≥68% slope efficiency) obtained compare very favourably with results reported for bulk crystals.