We report on the fabrication of Nd:YCOB (Nd:YCa(4)O(BO(3))(3)) optical waveguides by using 170 MeVAr(8+) ion irradiation at an ultralow fluence of 2×10(12) ions/cm(2). The confocal microphotoluminescence investigation on the produced waveguides has shown the well-preserved fluorescence features within the guiding layer with respect to the bulks. Under the optical pump at wavelength of 810 nm, continuous wave waveguide lasers at 1061.2 nm have been generated at room temperature with a high slope efficiency of ~67.9%.
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