Growth of active Nd-doped YAP thin-film waveguides by laser ablation

3 (YAP) thin films as a promising material for application in a planar waveguide laser has been studied. The films have been grown on sapphire(0001) and YAP(001) substrates by laser ablation. The influence of the substrate temperature and ambient oxygen pressure on the crystalline structure, concentration of Nd incorporated into films, and consequent luminescence spectra were investigated. The waveguiding properties were observed and refractive index of the films was evaluated.