Nd, Tm:YAG codoped single crystal waveguides were studied in order to discover if the presence of Nd3+ ions favors blue luminescence at 486 nm. Innovative implantation techniques were applied to locally change Delta n and form varied H+ implanted channel structures in Nd, Tm: YAG buried epitaxial waveguiding layers. The guided blue luminescence due to the Tm3+ (1)G(4)-> H-3(6) transition was studied under infrared excitation at 785 nm (Tm3+ absorption) and 808 nm (Nd3+ absorption) for the epitaxial planar waveguides of different Tm3+ and Nd3+ concentrations for all the implanted channel waveguide structures. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics. [DOI: 10.1063/1.2976303]