High-quality monoclinic planar waveguide crystals of Tm-doped KY(WO₄)₂ codoped with Gd³⁺ and Lu³⁺ were grown by liquid-phase epitaxy. For the first time, planar waveguide lasing was demonstrated in a monolithic cavity in the 2 µm spectral range. The laser was operated in the Q-switched mode using a Cr²⁺:ZnSe crystal as saturable absorber and in the continuous-wave regimes. The Q-switched planar waveguide laser delivered pulse energies up to 120 nJ at a repetition rate of 7 kHz.

© 2011 OSA

1. A. Godard, “Infrared (2–12 μm) solid-state laser sources: a review,” C. R. Phys. 8(10), 1100–1128 (2007). [CrossRef]
2. M. Eichhorn, “Quasi-three-level solid state lasers in the near and mid infrared based on trivalent rare earth ions,” Appl. Phys. B 93(2-3), 269–316 (2008). [CrossRef]
3. E. C. Honea, R. J. Beach, S. B. Sutton, J. A. Speth, S. C. Mitchell, J. A. Skidmore, M. A. Emanuel, and S. A. Payne, “115-W Tm:YAG Diode-Pumped Solid-State Laser,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 33(9), 1592–1600 (1997). [CrossRef]
4. X. M. Duan, B. Q. Yao, Y. J. Zhang, C. W. Song, L. L. Zheng, Y. L. Ju, and Y. Z. Wang, “Diode-pumped high efficient Tm:YLF laser output at 1908 nm with near-diffraction limited beam quality,” Laser Phys. Lett. 5(5), 347–349 (2008). [CrossRef]
5. C. Hauglie-Hanssen and N. Djeu, “Further investigations of a 2-µm Tm:YVO4 laser,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 30(2), 275–279 (1994). [CrossRef]
6. V. Petrov, F. Güell, J. Massons, J. Gavalda, R. M. Solé, M. Aguiló, F. Díaz, and U. Griebner, “Efficient tunable laser operation of Tm:KGd(WO4)2 in the continuous-wave regime at room temperature,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 40(9), 1244–1251 (2004). [CrossRef]
7. X. Mateos, V. Petrov, J. Liu, M. C. Pujol, U. Griebner, M. Aguiló, F. Díaz, M. Galan, and G. Viera, “Efficient 2-μm continuous wave laser oscillation of Tm3+:KLu(WO4)2,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 42, 1008–1015 (2006). [CrossRef]
8. V. Petrov, M. C. Pujol, X. Mateos, O. Silvestre, S. Rivier, M. Aguiló, R. M. Solé, J. Liu, U. Griebner, and F. Díaz, “Growth and properties of KLu(WO4)2, and novel ytterbium and thulium lasers based on this monoclinic crystalline host,” Laser Photon. Rev. 1(2), 179–212 (2007). [CrossRef]
9. X. Mateos, V. Petrov, J. Liu, M. C. Pujol, U. Griebner, M. Aguiló, F. Díaz, M. Galán, and G. Viera, “Efficient 2 µm continuous-wave laser oscillation of Tm3+:KLu(WO4)2,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 42, 1008–1015 (2006). [CrossRef]
10. L. E. Batay, A. A. Demidovich, A. N. Kuzmin, A. N. Titov, M. Mond, and S. Kuck, “Efficient tunable laser operation of diode-pumped Yb, Tm:KY(WO4)2 around 1.9 μm,” Appl. Phys. B 75(4-5), 457–461 (2002). [CrossRef]
11. A. E. Troshin, V. E. Kisel, V. G. Shcherbitsky, N. V. Kuleshov, A. A. Pavlyuk, E. B. Dunina, and A. A. Kornienko, “Laser performance of Tm:KY(WO4)2 crystal,” OSA Trends in Optics and Photonics (TOPS) 98, Advanced Solid-State Photonics (Optical Society of America, Washington, DC 2005), pp. 214–218.
12. S. Vatnik, I. Vedin, M. C. Pujol, X. Mateos, J. J. Carvajal, M. Aguiló, F. Díaz, U. Griebner, and V. Petrov, “Thin disk Tm-laser based on highly doped Tm:KLu(WO4)2/KLu(WO4)2 epitaxy,” Laser Phys. Lett. 7(6), 435–439 (2010). [CrossRef]
13. O. Silvestre, M. C. Pujol, M. Aguiló, F. Díaz, X. Mateos, V. Petrov, and U. Griebner, “CW laser operation of KLu0.945Tm0.055(WO4)2/KLu(WO4)2 epilayers near 2-µm,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 43, 257–260 (2007). [CrossRef]
14. L. E. Batay, A. N. Kuzmin, A. S. Grabtchikov, V. A. Lisinetskii, V. A. Orlovich, A. A. Demidovich, A. N. Titov, V. V. Badikov, S. G. Sheina, V. L. Panyutin, M. Mond, and S. Kück, “Efficient diode-pumped passively Q-switched laser operation around 1.9 µm and self-frequency Raman conversion of Tm-doped KY(WO4)2,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 81(16), 2926–2928 (2007). [CrossRef]
15. M. Pollnau, Y. E. Romanyuk, F. Gardillou, C. N. Borca, U. Griebner, S. Rivier, and V. Petrov, “Double tungstate lasers: From bulk toward on-chip integrated waveguide devices,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 13(3), 661–671 (2007). [CrossRef]
16. Y. E. Romanyuk, C. N. Borca, M. Pollnau, S. Rivier, V. Petrov, and U. Griebner, “Yb-doped KY(WO4)2 planar waveguide laser,” Opt. Lett. 31(1), 53–55 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
17. D. Geskus, S. Aravazhi, E. Bernhardi, C. Grivas, S. Harkema, K. Hametner, D. Günther, K. Wörhoff, and M. Pollnau, “Low-threshold highly efficient Gd3+, Lu3+ co-doped KY(WO4)2:Yb3+ planar waveguide laser,” Laser Phys. Lett. 6(11), 800–805 (2009). [CrossRef]
18. F. M. Bain, A. A. Lagatsky, S. V. Kurilchick, V. E. Kisel, S. A. Guretsky, A. M. Luginets, N. A. Kalanda, I. M. Kolesova, N. V. Kuleshov, W. Sibbett, and C. T. A. Brown, “Continuous-wave and Q-switched operation of a compact, diode-pumped Yb3+:KY(WO4)2 planar waveguide laser,” Opt. Express 17(3), 1666–1670 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
19. A. Rameix, C. Borel, B. Chambaz, B. Ferrand, D. P. Shepherd, T. J. Warburton, D. C. Hanna, and A. C. Tropper, “An efficient, diode-pumped, 2 µm Tm:YAG waveguide laser,” Opt. Commun. 142(4-6), 239–243 (1997). [CrossRef]
20. J. I. Mackenzie, S. C. Mitchell, R. J. Beach, H. E. Meissner, and D. P. Shepherd, “15 W diode-side-pumped Tm:YAG waveguide laser at 2 µm,” Electron. Lett. 37(14), 898–899 (2001). [CrossRef]
21. S. Rivier, X. Mateos, V. Petrov, U. Griebner, Y. E. Romanyuk, C. N. Borca, F. Gardillou, and M. Pollnau, “Tm:KY(WO(4))(2) waveguide laser,” Opt. Express 15(9), 5885–5892 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
22. J. J. Carvajal, B. Raghothamachar, O. Silvestre, H. Chen, M. C. Pujol, V. Petrov, M. Dudley, M. Aguiló, and F. Díaz, “Effect of structural stress on the laser quality of highly doped Yb:KY(WO4)2/KY(WO4)2 and Yb:KLu(WO4)2/KLu(WO4)2 epitaxial structures,” Cryst. Growth Des. 9(2), 653–656 (2009). [CrossRef]
23. F. Gardillou, Y. E. Romanyuk, C. N. Borca, R. P. Salathé, and M. Pollnau, “Lu, Gd codoped KY(WO(4))(2):Yb epitaxial layers: towards integrated optics based on KY(WO(4))(2).,” Opt. Lett. 32(5), 488–490 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
24. W. Bolaños, J. J. Carvajal, M. C. Pujol, X. Mateos, G. Lifante, M. Aguiló, and F. Díaz, “Epitaxial growth of lattice matched KY1-x-yGdxLuy(WO4)2 thin films on KY(WO4)2 substrates for waveguiding applications,” Cryst. Growth Des. 9(8), 3525–3531 (2009). [CrossRef]
25. W. Bolaños, J. J. Carvajal, X. Mateos, M. C. Pujol, N. Thilmann, V. Pasiskevicius, G. Lifante, M. Aguiló, and F. Díaz, “Epitaxial layers of KY1-x-yGdxLuy(WO4)2 doped with Er3+ and Tm3+ for planar waveguide lasers,” Opt. Mater. 32(3), 469–474 (2010). [CrossRef]
26. W. Bolaños, J. J. Carvajal, M. C. Pujol, X. Mateos, M. Aguiló, and F. Díaz, “Monoclinic double tungstate lattice matched epitaxial layers for integrated optics applications,” Phys. Proc. 8, 151–156 (2010). [CrossRef]

Appl. Phys. B

• M. Eichhorn, “Quasi-three-level solid state lasers in the near and mid infrared based on trivalent rare earth ions,” Appl. Phys. B 93(2-3), 269–316 (2008). [CrossRef]
• L. E. Batay, A. A. Demidovich, A. N. Kuzmin, A. N. Titov, M. Mond, and S. Kuck, “Efficient tunable laser operation of diode-pumped Yb, Tm:KY(WO4)2 around 1.9 μm,” Appl. Phys. B 75(4-5), 457–461 (2002). [CrossRef]

Appl. Phys. Lett.

• L. E. Batay, A. N. Kuzmin, A. S. Grabtchikov, V. A. Lisinetskii, V. A. Orlovich, A. A. Demidovich, A. N. Titov, V. V. Badikov, S. G. Sheina, V. L. Panyutin, M. Mond, and S. Kück, “Efficient diode-pumped passively Q-switched laser operation around 1.9 µm and self-frequency Raman conversion of Tm-doped KY(WO4)2,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 81(16), 2926–2928 (2007). [CrossRef]

C. R. Phys.

• A. Godard, “Infrared (2–12 μm) solid-state laser sources: a review,” C. R. Phys. 8(10), 1100–1128 (2007). [CrossRef]

Cryst. Growth Des.

• J. J. Carvajal, B. Raghothamachar, O. Silvestre, H. Chen, M. C. Pujol, V. Petrov, M. Dudley, M. Aguiló, and F. Díaz, “Effect of structural stress on the laser quality of highly doped Yb:KY(WO4)2/KY(WO4)2 and Yb:KLu(WO4)2/KLu(WO4)2 epitaxial structures,” Cryst. Growth Des. 9(2), 653–656 (2009). [CrossRef]
• W. Bolaños, J. J. Carvajal, M. C. Pujol, X. Mateos, G. Lifante, M. Aguiló, and F. Díaz, “Epitaxial growth of lattice matched KY1-x-yGdxLuy(WO4)2 thin films on KY(WO4)2 substrates for waveguiding applications,” Cryst. Growth Des. 9(8), 3525–3531 (2009). [CrossRef]

Electron. Lett.

• J. I. Mackenzie, S. C. Mitchell, R. J. Beach, H. E. Meissner, and D. P. Shepherd, “15 W diode-side-pumped Tm:YAG waveguide laser at 2 µm,” Electron. Lett. 37(14), 898–899 (2001). [CrossRef]

IEEE J. Quantum Electron.

• X. Mateos, V. Petrov, J. Liu, M. C. Pujol, U. Griebner, M. Aguiló, F. Díaz, M. Galán, and G. Viera, “Efficient 2 µm continuous-wave laser oscillation of Tm3+:KLu(WO4)2,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 42, 1008–1015 (2006). [CrossRef]
• E. C. Honea, R. J. Beach, S. B. Sutton, J. A. Speth, S. C. Mitchell, J. A. Skidmore, M. A. Emanuel, and S. A. Payne, “115-W Tm:YAG Diode-Pumped Solid-State Laser,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 33(9), 1592–1600 (1997). [CrossRef]
• C. Hauglie-Hanssen and N. Djeu, “Further investigations of a 2-µm Tm:YVO4 laser,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 30(2), 275–279 (1994). [CrossRef]
• V. Petrov, F. Güell, J. Massons, J. Gavalda, R. M. Solé, M. Aguiló, F. Díaz, and U. Griebner, “Efficient tunable laser operation of Tm:KGd(WO4)2 in the continuous-wave regime at room temperature,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 40(9), 1244–1251 (2004). [CrossRef]
• X. Mateos, V. Petrov, J. Liu, M. C. Pujol, U. Griebner, M. Aguiló, F. Díaz, M. Galan, and G. Viera, “Efficient 2-μm continuous wave laser oscillation of Tm3+:KLu(WO4)2,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 42, 1008–1015 (2006). [CrossRef]
• O. Silvestre, M. C. Pujol, M. Aguiló, F. Díaz, X. Mateos, V. Petrov, and U. Griebner, “CW laser operation of KLu0.945Tm0.055(WO4)2/KLu(WO4)2 epilayers near 2-µm,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 43, 257–260 (2007). [CrossRef]

IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron.

• M. Pollnau, Y. E. Romanyuk, F. Gardillou, C. N. Borca, U. Griebner, S. Rivier, and V. Petrov, “Double tungstate lasers: From bulk toward on-chip integrated waveguide devices,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 13(3), 661–671 (2007). [CrossRef]

Laser Photon. Rev.

• V. Petrov, M. C. Pujol, X. Mateos, O. Silvestre, S. Rivier, M. Aguiló, R. M. Solé, J. Liu, U. Griebner, and F. Díaz, “Growth and properties of KLu(WO4)2, and novel ytterbium and thulium lasers based on this monoclinic crystalline host,” Laser Photon. Rev. 1(2), 179–212 (2007). [CrossRef]

Laser Phys. Lett.

• X. M. Duan, B. Q. Yao, Y. J. Zhang, C. W. Song, L. L. Zheng, Y. L. Ju, and Y. Z. Wang, “Diode-pumped high efficient Tm:YLF laser output at 1908 nm with near-diffraction limited beam quality,” Laser Phys. Lett. 5(5), 347–349 (2008). [CrossRef]
• D. Geskus, S. Aravazhi, E. Bernhardi, C. Grivas, S. Harkema, K. Hametner, D. Günther, K. Wörhoff, and M. Pollnau, “Low-threshold highly efficient Gd3+, Lu3+ co-doped KY(WO4)2:Yb3+ planar waveguide laser,” Laser Phys. Lett. 6(11), 800–805 (2009). [CrossRef]
• S. Vatnik, I. Vedin, M. C. Pujol, X. Mateos, J. J. Carvajal, M. Aguiló, F. Díaz, U. Griebner, and V. Petrov, “Thin disk Tm-laser based on highly doped Tm:KLu(WO4)2/KLu(WO4)2 epitaxy,” Laser Phys. Lett. 7(6), 435–439 (2010). [CrossRef]

Opt. Commun.

• A. Rameix, C. Borel, B. Chambaz, B. Ferrand, D. P. Shepherd, T. J. Warburton, D. C. Hanna, and A. C. Tropper, “An efficient, diode-pumped, 2 µm Tm:YAG waveguide laser,” Opt. Commun. 142(4-6), 239–243 (1997). [CrossRef]

Opt. Express

• S. Rivier, X. Mateos, V. Petrov, U. Griebner, Y. E. Romanyuk, C. N. Borca, F. Gardillou, and M. Pollnau, “Tm:KY(WO(4))(2) waveguide laser,” Opt. Express 15(9), 5885–5892 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• F. M. Bain, A. A. Lagatsky, S. V. Kurilchick, V. E. Kisel, S. A. Guretsky, A. M. Luginets, N. A. Kalanda, I. M. Kolesova, N. V. Kuleshov, W. Sibbett, and C. T. A. Brown, “Continuous-wave and Q-switched operation of a compact, diode-pumped Yb3+:KY(WO4)2 planar waveguide laser,” Opt. Express 17(3), 1666–1670 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Opt. Lett.

• Y. E. Romanyuk, C. N. Borca, M. Pollnau, S. Rivier, V. Petrov, and U. Griebner, “Yb-doped KY(WO4)2 planar waveguide laser,” Opt. Lett. 31(1), 53–55 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• F. Gardillou, Y. E. Romanyuk, C. N. Borca, R. P. Salathé, and M. Pollnau, “Lu, Gd codoped KY(WO(4))(2):Yb epitaxial layers: towards integrated optics based on KY(WO(4))(2).,” Opt. Lett. 32(5), 488–490 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Opt. Mater.

• W. Bolaños, J. J. Carvajal, X. Mateos, M. C. Pujol, N. Thilmann, V. Pasiskevicius, G. Lifante, M. Aguiló, and F. Díaz, “Epitaxial layers of KY1-x-yGdxLuy(WO4)2 doped with Er3+ and Tm3+ for planar waveguide lasers,” Opt. Mater. 32(3), 469–474 (2010). [CrossRef]

Phys. Proc.

• W. Bolaños, J. J. Carvajal, M. C. Pujol, X. Mateos, M. Aguiló, and F. Díaz, “Monoclinic double tungstate lattice matched epitaxial layers for integrated optics applications,” Phys. Proc. 8, 151–156 (2010). [CrossRef]

Other

• A. E. Troshin, V. E. Kisel, V. G. Shcherbitsky, N. V. Kuleshov, A. A. Pavlyuk, E. B. Dunina, and A. A. Kornienko, “Laser performance of Tm:KY(WO4)2 crystal,” OSA Trends in Optics and Photonics (TOPS) 98, Advanced Solid-State Photonics (Optical Society of America, Washington, DC 2005), pp. 214–218.

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